OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of Simo Decoction Oral Liquid for the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction after stable thoracolumbar fractures.

METHODSFrom May 2005 to July 2008, 81 patients with stable thoracolumbar fractures were randomly divided into treatment group (41 cases) and control group (40 cases) according to a random digits table. The treatment group included 32 males and 9 females with an average age of (47.19 +/- 5.18) years old ranging from 21 to 55 years, and the course was from 1 to 45 hours with an average of (7.83 +/- 1.29) hours. The control group included 30 males and 10 females with an average age of (46.31 +/- 3.72) years ranging from 20 to 54 years,and the course was from 1.5 to 43 hours with an average of (8.15 +/- 1.63) hours. The treatment group were dealed with Simo Decoction Oral Liquid,and the control group with neostigmine for acupoint block in bilateral Foot-Three-Li. The recovery of gastrointestinal function and the first passage of gas by anus were compared.

RESULTSThe time of recovery of gastrointestinal function in treatment group (7.27 +/- 3.14) h was shorter than that in control group (10.12 +/- 3.62) h. The time of first passage of gas by anus in treatment group (15.39 +/- 13.70) h was significantly shorter than that in contral group (24.02 +/- 18.11) h. The total effective rate in treatment group was higher than that in control group.

CONCLUSIONBoth the treatment group and the control group have clinical effects in treatment of the restoration of gastrointestinal dysfunction after the stable thoracolumbar fractures, but the treatment group has more remarkable therapeutic effect and less side effects.