OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of therapeutic effect in lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians and Methylcobalamin with oral administration, and explore the best time for plum-blossom needle intervention.

METHODSEighty cases of lower limb sensation disorder caused by nucleus pulposus discectomy of lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into a plum-blossom needle group (40 cases) and a western medication group (40 cases). In plum-blossom needle group, tapping with plum-blossom needle along meridians was received, the meridians located at sensation areas which were dominated by relevant segmental nerve root in operation were selected: the lower limb section of the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin was selected for operation at L3/L4; the lower limb section of the Gall Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang was selected for operation at L4 /L5; the lower limb section of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang was selected for operation at L5/S1; once treatment was applied every 3 days, and 20 times treatments were applied totally. In western medication group, Methylcobalamin was orally taken for 500 microg, 3 times a day. The recovery of lower limb sensation disorder was evaluated and compared by the comprehensive evaluation method of sensory function of body nerve after 2 months in both groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 90.0% (36/40) in plum-blossom needle group, superior to that of 60.0% (24/40) in western medication group (P < 0.05). In plum-blossom needle group, the effect for the cases which received treatment within one month after operation was superior to that received treatment during 1-3 months after operation (P < 0.05); and there was no significant differences between the cases which received the treatment during 1-3 months after operation and more than 3 months after operation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians is superior to that of Methylcobalamin with oral administration; the plum-blossom needle intervention within one month after operation can receive the best effect.