Clinical research on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy treated by electroacupuncture incorporate with acupuncture point injection

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture incorporate with acupuncture point injection in treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy.Methods 103 cases from Chen Jia Qiao Community Health Service Centre and other community centers during February 2011 to November 2012 were collected and randomly allocated into three group:a electroacupuncture group of 34 cases; an acupuncture point injection of another 34 cases and an observation group of 35 cases treated with electroacupuncture which incorporated with traction therapy.After the treatment,the therapeutic effects among three groups were compared.Results ① clinical efficacy comparing:total efficacy rate of observation group was 91.4％ (32/35),the electroacupuncture group was 73.5％ (24/34),the group treated with acupuncture point injection was 70.6％ (25/34).There were statistically significant differences between the observation group and the other two groups (Z=1.721,P＜0.05),while there's no statistically significant of comparison between the group treated with electroacupuncture and the group treated with acupuncture point injection (Z=2.473,P＞0.05).② NDI score comparing:NDI score of these three groups before and after treatment.Before treatment,the score of observation group was (12.32 ± 5.03) ; the electroacupuncture group was (12.96± 6.10) ; the acupuncture point injection group was (12.79±5.07),after treatment,the separate sore was (7.40±4.12),(6.08±3.60) and (6.08 ± 3.60) sequentially.There were statistically significant differences of NDI score of the three groups before and after treatment (P＜0.05).After treatment,the efficacy of observation group was better than the group treated with electroacupuncture and the group treated with acupuncture point injection(P＜0.05).③ signs or symptoms comparing:After treatment,there were statistically significant differences between the observation group and the other two groups on the aspect of relieving pain of neck and arm,numbness of arm and hand,and alleviating soreness when doing spurling test on cervical intervertebral foramen (Z-score is 2.603,2.862,2.307,P＜0.05).There's no statistically significant of comparison among three groups on the aspects of neck functional activities and segmental tenderness of cervical spondylosis (Z-score is 1.414,1.572,P＞0.05).Conclusion In treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy,the total efficacy rate of electroacupuncture incorporate with acupuncture point injection was higher than only treat with electroacupuncture or acupuncture point injection. Key words: Acupuncture point injection; Electroacupuncture; Cervical spondylosis