Clinical Study on Combination Use of Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy and Iontophore⁃ sis of Chinese Medicinals for Degenerative Facet Joint-Related Low Back Pain
Abstract:Objective:To observe the clinical effect of the combination use of ultrasound-guided acupotomy and iontophoresis of Chinese medicinals on degenerative facet joint-related low back pain. Methods:A total of 134 patients with degenerative facet joint-related low back pain who were treated in Yuyao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to May 2023 were selected as the study subjects. According to the random number table method,they were divided into the western medicine group and the combination group,with 67 cases in each group. The western medicine group was given oral administration of Diclofenac Sodium Dual Release Enteric-Coated Capsules as the basic treatment;the combination group was additionally treated with musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided acupotomy combined with iontophoresis of Chinese medicinals based on treatment in the western medicine group. Both groups were treated for 14 days as a course of treatment,two courses in total. The clinical effects,and the improvement of low back pain [Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)] and lumbar function [Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)] before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Results:After two weeks of treatment,the excellence rate was 64.18%(43/67)in the combination group,and 25.37%(17/67)in the western medicine group,the difference being significant(P< 0.05). After four weeks of treatment,the excellence rate was 80.60%(54/67)in the combination group,and 32.84% (22/67)in the western medicine group,the difference being significant(P<0.05). After six months of follow-up,the excellence rate was 74.63%(50/67)in the combination group,and 37.31%(25/67)in the western medicine group, the difference being significant(P<0.05). After 12 months of follow-up,the excellence rate was 80.60%(54/67)in the combination group,and 38.81%(26/67)in the western medicine group,the difference being significant(P< 0.05). At one day,two weeks and four weeks after treatment,the VAS scores in the two groups reduced when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the scores showed a decreasing trend(P<0.05);the VAS score in the combination group was lower than that in the western medicine group at the same time point(P<0.05). At one day, two weeks and four weeks after treatment,the ODI scores in the two groups dwindled when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the scores showed a decreasing trend(P<0.05);the ODI score in the combination group was lower than that in the western medicine group at the same time point(P<0.05). Conclusion:The combination use of musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided acupotomy and iontophoresis of Chinese medicinals has a good effect on degenerative facet joint-related low back pain,which can effectively improve the symptoms of lumbar pain and the lumbar function.