OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of acupoint-injection and Chinese herbs for treatment of lumbago-leg pain induced by primary osteoporosis.

METHODSNinety cases of lumbago-leg pain induced by primary osteoporosis were randomly divided into a Jiaji point group, a reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and a medication group, 30 cases in each group. For the Jiaji point group, bilateral Jiaji points T11, L1, L3, L5 and S2 were selected; for the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group, Pishu (BL 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3), Taibai (SP 3), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuehai (SP 10) were selected and the medication group were treated with oral administration of Qianggu Capsules. Changes of bone mass density (BMD) and pain cumulative score after treatment were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.3% in the Jiaji point group, 73.3% in the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and 60.0% in the medication group, the Jiaji point group being better than both the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and the medication group (P<0.01, P<0.05). In reduction of pain cumulative score and improvement of BMD, the Jiaji point group was better than both the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group and the medication group (P<0.01), and the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group was better than the medication group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint-injection has a definite therapeutic effect on lumbago-leg pain induced by primary osteoporosis, and the therapeutic effect of the Jiaji point group is better than the reinforcing kidney and strengthening spleen point group.