OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of supplementing qi, activating blood circulation and tonifying kidney therapy on the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing lumber intervertebral disc herniation.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to May 2012, 120 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation undergoing surgical treatment in Nanfang hospital were randomized into two equal groups to receive routine therapy (control group) and additional treatment with Yiqi Houxue Bushen Decoction (treatment group). The effect of the interventions was evaluated by assessing the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association Scores (JOA), WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), length of hospital stay and adverse event.

RESULTSAll the 120 patients were followed up and analyzed. Significant differences were found between the treatment and control groups in VAS, JOA Scores, and WHOQOL-BREF (P<0.01) at 2, 4, and 8 week and at 6 and 12 months after the surgery. At 6 and 12 months postoperatively, the JOA Scores (P<0.01), but not the VAS and WHOQOL-BREF, differed significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONBlood-activating and kidney-nourishing therapy is effective in promoting postoperative recovery and helps reduce the clinical symptoms and minimize the adverse events in patients undergoing surgery for lumber intervertebral disc herniation.