Efficacy Comparison Between Holistic Acupuncture And Local Acupuncture At Jiaji(EX-B2)in Treating Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy

ObjectiveCervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy is the most common among cervical spondylosis,which is mainly manifested by a series of symptoms and signs,such as pain and numb in areas of the corresponding cervical nerve root,paresthesia,dysfunction of activity.Due to the long course of the disease and the characteristics of repeated attacks,people' s physical and mental health are affected to varying degrees,resulting in a decline in the quality of life.In this study,a randomized controlled study was conducted to treat cervical spondylotic radiculopathy with two different acupuncture schemes,holistic acupuncture at Jiaji(EX-B2)and local acupuncture at Jiaji(EX-B2).The clinical effects of two acupuncture schemes were observed and compared in order to explore a more effective acupuncture program for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and provide reference and basis for clinical practice.MethodsSixty-six patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy who met the admission criteria were divided into the holistic acupuncture group(the treatment group)and the local acupuncture group(the control group)according to the random number table,and 33 patients in each group.The Jiaji points were used as the main points.In the holistic acupuncture group,the Jiaji points of the cervical,thoracic,lumbar and sacral vertebral segments were selected.Each of the two acupoints was separated by a vertebra,and the acupuncture was performed alternately.For patients in the local acupuncture group,the Jiaji points which corresponding to the cervical vertebra of the lesion and the upper and lower segments were taken.The acupuncture was performed at 6 points each time.Hegu,Quchi,Houxi and Waiguan on the affected side were selected as combined acupoints in both groups.The patients were treated three times a week,and the total treatment costs two courses which spends two weeks for a course of treatment.Each patient was observed before treatment,after one course of treatment,after two courses of treatment and one-month of follow-up.The Short-Form of McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Yasuhisa Tanaka Symptom Scale were used as the evaluation indexes of efficacy.SPSS20.0 statistical software was applied to collect and analyze the data.The improvement of symptoms,signs and pain in the two groups was evaluated,and the difference in efficacy between the two acupuncture schemes was compared.Results1.A total of 66 patients were enrolled in this study,and 64 patients were actually accomplished,which included 33 patients in the holistic acupuncture group without seceding and 33 patients in the local acupuncture group with 2 patients in seceding.2.In the the holistic acupuncture group,7 patients were cured,17 were markedly effective,6 were effective,and 3 were ineffective.The total effective rate was 90.9%,and the rate of cure and marked effectivity was 72.7%.In the local acupuncture group,4 patients were cured,11 were markedly effective,11 were effective,and 5 were ineffective.The total effective rate was 83.9%,and the rate of cure and marked effectivity was 48.4%.According to the test,there was no statistically significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups(P>0.05),and the difference in the rate of cure and marked effectivity was statistically significant(P<0.05),which suggests that the overall efficacy of the holistic acupuncture at Jiaji point was superior to the local acupuncture at Jiaji point.3.The Yasuhisa Tanaka Symptom Scale was used for intra-group comparison:the total score,symptoms,work and life,physical signs and hand function scores of the holistic acupuncture group and the local acupuncture group increased gradually after one course of treatment,two courses of treatment and one-month of follow-up(P<0.01).The result suggests that both acupuncture schemes can gradually improve the symptoms and signs of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy,improve the quality of work and life as well as the function of hands.The efficacy after treatment can also be consolidated.Comparation between two groups:There was no significant difference in total score,symptoms,work and life,physical signs and hand function between the holistic acupuncture group and the local acupuncture group after one course of treatment(P>0.05).After two courses of treatment and one-month follow-up,there were significant differences in total scores,symptom scores and physical scores(P<0.05).Neither work and life scores nor the function of hands was statistically significant at the stages of after two courses of treatment and follow-up after one month(P>0.05).It is suggested that the two acupuncture schemes have the equal effect in the early stage.In the later stage,the holistic acupuncture at Jiaji points is better than the local acupuncture at Jiaji points in improving the symptoms and signs of patients who suffer from cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.Compared the improvement in the quality of work and life together with function of hand,the two groups were equally effective.4.Short-Form of McGill Pain Questionnaire was used for intra-groupcomparison:After one course of treatment,after two courses of treatment and one-month of follow-up,the total scores,PRI,VAS and PPI scores of the holistic acupuncture group and the local acupuncture group decreased gradual ly,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).It is suggested that in the process of treatment,both acupuncture schemes can gradually improve the sensation and emotion which brought from patients' pain as well.as reduce the pain intensity.Comparation between two groups:There were no significant differences in the total scores,PRI,VAS and PPI between the holistic acupuncture group and the local acupuncture group after one course of treatment(P>0.05).The di f ferences in total scores,PRI,VAvSand PPI scores were stat i st ically significant(P<0.05)at the st ages of after two courses of treatment and one-month of follow-up,which means that the two acupuncture schemes were equally effective in improving pain in the early stage,but the effect of holistic acupuncture at Jiaji was more pronounced in the later stage.5.A follow-up was conducted after three months.There is one patient in the the holistic acupuncture group had recurrence,and the recurrence rate was 3.03%;3 patients in the local acupuncture group had recurrence,and the recurrence rate was 9.68%.The difference was not statistically signi ficant(P>0.05).There is no significant di fference in the recurrence condition between the two acupuncture schemes.ConclusionThe holistic acupuncture at Jiaji points is effective in treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy,which can improve the clinical symptoms,signs,work and living ability of patients and relieve pain.In the short term,the holistic acupuncture at Jiaji points is equivalent to the local acupuncture at Jiaji points.In the later stage and the stage of consolidation,the effect of holistic acupuncture at Jiaji points is superior to local acupuncture at Jiaji points.The long-term effect remains to be further observed.