Observation on curative effect of acupuncture by syndrome differentiation of channels combined with hot compress with traditional Chinese medicine on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy

Abstract

Objective To observe the curative effect of acupuncture by syndrome differentiation of channels combined with hot compress with traditional Chinese medicine on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Methods Ninety patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy from January 2016 to December 2017 were randomly divided into three groups: acupuncture group, hot compress group and observation group, 30 cases in each group. Acupuncture group was treated with simple acupuncture, hot compress group was treated with simple traditional Chinese medicine hot compress, and observation group was treated with the combination of acupuncture by syndrome differentiation of channels and hot compress with traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and hot compress of traditional Chinese medicine were applied once a day, with 6 times as a course of treatment, and rest for 3 days. Then the other course of treatment was followed, and the efficacy was evaluated after 2 courses. Fisher Exact test was used to compare the total effective rate and healing rate of three groups. Variance analysis was used to compare the visual analogue scale score (VAS) of three groups. Results The results showed that 23 cases in the observation group were cured, 5 cases were markedly effective, 2 cases were effective and 0 cases were ineffective. The total effective rate was 100% (30/30). In the acupuncture group, 15 cases were cured, 8 cases were markedly effective, 3 cases were effective and 4 cases were ineffective. The total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30). In the hot compress group, 4 cases were cured, 5 cases were markedly effective, 8 cases were effective and 13 cases were ineffective. The total effective rate was 56.7% (17/30). The total effective rate and the marked recovery rate of the three groups were significantly different (χ2=29.205, 19.290, all P<0.01). The difference of VAS before and after treatment in the observation group was higher by 1.83 (95% CI: 1.02~2.66) and 3.40 (95% CI: 2.58~4.22) than that in the acupuncture group (2.88±2.02) and the hot compress group (1.31±1.29), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.70, 5.74, all P<0.01). The average VAS in the acupuncture group was higher by 1.57 (95% CI: 0.75~2.38) than that in the hot compress group, and the difference had statistical significance (t=3.04, P<0.01). Conclusion The curative effect of acupuncture by syndrome differentiation of channels combined with hot compress with traditional Chinese medicine on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy is obviously better than that of simple acupuncture group and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress group. Key words: Cervical vertebrae; Acupuncture therapy; Syndrome differentiation meridian; Application therapy; Neck pain