Abstract： Objective： To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with small needle knife for lumbar disc herniation. Methods：A total of 216 cases of patients with lumbar disc herniation were divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table method， with 108 cases in each group. The control group was treated with small needle knife，and the observation group was additionally treated with acupuncture based on the treatment of the control group. Before and after treatment，the scores of Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire(SF-MPQ)，Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)，and the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)，interleukin-6(IL-6)， tumor necrosis factor- α(TNF- α)， nitric oxide(NO) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in the two groups were compared. Results： After treatment for one and four weeks， the levels of IL- 1β， IL- 6， TNF- α and NO in the two groups were gradually decreased，and the SOD levels were gradually increased(P＜0.05)，and the levels of IL-1β，IL-6，TNF-α and NO in the observation group were lower than those in the control group at the same time point，and the SOD level was higher(P＜ 0.05). After treatment for one and four weeks，the scores of Pain Rating Index(PRI)，Present Pain Intensity(PPI) and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and the total scores of SF-MPQ in the two groups were gradually decreased(P＜0.05)；and the scores of PRI，PPI and VAS and the total score of SF-MPQ in the observation group were lower(P＜0.05). After treatment for one and four weeks，the JOA scores in the two groups were gradually increased，and the ODI scores were gradually decreased (P＜0.05)；the JOA score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group at the same time point，and the ODI score was lower(P＜0.05). Conclusion：Acupuncture combined with small needle knife for lumbar disc herniation has a significant effect，and can reduce levels of inflammatory factors，relieve symptoms of pain and improve the lumbar function.