OBJECTIVETo observe the analgesic and sedative effects of acupuncture combined with local anesthesia for percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).

METHODSSixty patients of single segmental osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who were prepared to receive PVP were randomly divided into an observation group, a control 1 group, a control 2 group, 20 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at Hegu (LI 4), Neiguan (PC 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) 20 min before operation; during operation, EA was given combined with regular anesthesia. The patients in the control 1 group were treated with intramuscular injection of parecoxib sodium (40 mg), combined with regular anesthesia. The patients in the control 2 group were treated with intravenous injection of dezocine (5 mg), combined with regular anesthesia. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Ramesy sedation score were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSIn the observation group and control 2 group, the VAS during puncture and bone cement placement was higher than that before acupuncture (all <0.01); the VAS during bone cement placement was higher than that before puncture (<0.05, <0.01); the VAS after operation was lower than that during puncture and bone cement placement (<0.05, <0.01). In the control 1 group, the VAS during puncture and bone cement placement and after operation was higher than that before acupuncture (<0.01, <0.05), the VAS after operation was lower than that during puncture and bone cement placement (<0.05, <0.01). There was no significant difference in VAS and Ramesy score among three groups at all time points (all >0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with local anesthesia and analgesics, acupuncture combined with local anesthesia has similar analgesic and sedative effect for PVP, which could be considered a better method for PVP anesthesia.