OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effects on pricking blood along meridians combined with electroacupuncture for treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.

METHODSOne hundred cases were randomly divided into an observation group (50 cases) and a control group (50 cases). The observation group was treated with pricking blood along meridians combined with electroacupuncture. The main points for pricking blood were collaterals with blood stasis around Weizhong (BL 40) on the affected side, and collaterals with blood stasis on corresponding meridians such as Foot Shaoyang Meridian, Foot Taiyang Meridian and Foot Yangming Meridian according to body parts syndrome differentiation could also be used. The points for electroacupuncture included Ashi point (1 cun away from the spinal space of segmental lesions), Dachangshu (BL 25), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), Zhibian (BL 54), Huantiao (GB 30) and so on. The control group was only treated with electroacupuncture and treatment was same as the observation group. The therapeutic effects and scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe cured rate of observation group (68.0%, 34/50) was higher than that of control group (46.0%, 23/50, P < 0.05). The cured and markedly effective rate of observation group (92.0%, 46/50) was also higher than that of control group (74.0%, 37/50, P < 0.05). The scores of VAS after treatment in both groups decreased obviously (both P < 0.01), and the decreasing degree of VAS in observation group was more obvious than that in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPricking blood along meridians combined with electroacupuncture has outstanding effect for treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.