Analysis on application value of Fu's subcutaneous needling for intercostal pain after surgery of osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture

Abstract

To observe the effect of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy on pain degree, quality of life, serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in patients with intercostal pain after surgery for osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and explore the application value of Fu's subcutaneous needling in treatment of post-operative intercostal pain. A total of 60 patients with intercostal pain after OVCF surgery were divided into a medication group and a Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group, with 30 cases in each group. In the medication group, zoledronic acid injection, salmon calcitonin injection, calcitonin D tablets and mecobalamin tablets were prescribed. The duration of treatment was 8 weeks. In the Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group, on the base of treatment as the medicine group, Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy was provided for 2 weeks，once every other day. The needle is inserted 6 cm away from the most painful point. Separately, in 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the generic quality of life inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) were adopted to evaluate intercostal pain and quality of life in the patients of both groups and analyze the incidence of adverse reaction. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY. Compared with the results before treatment, in 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, VAS scores of both groups were all reduced (P<0.05), GQOLI-74 scores increased obviously (P<0.05) and the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY increased obviously (P<0.05) in the two groups. In 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, VAS score in the Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05), GQOLI-74 score and the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY were higher than those in the medication group (P<0.05). During the treatment and in 16 weeks after treatment, the difference was not significant in the incidence of adverse reaction between the two groups (P>0.05). Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy can relieve intercostal pain and improves the quality of life in the patients after surgery for OVCF.