Objective: To compare the effect difference between needle-knife therapy combined with moxa stick pressure moxibustion and western medicine for cervical vertigo.
Methods: A total of 60 cervical vertigo patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with needle-knife therapy combined with moxa stick pressure moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Tianzhu (BL 10), Yuzhen (BL 9), Touwei (ST 8), etc. The needle-knife therapy was given once a week, 1-3 times. The pressure moxibustion was given once a day, 6 times a week. The patients in the control group were received 12 mg of betahistine mesylate, twice a day, and 75 mg of diclofenac sodium double release capsule, once daily for oral treatment. The treatment was given for 3 weeks in both groups. The symptom and functional evaluation scale of cervical vertigo were observed before and after treatment and 3 months after treatment. The long-term effect was observed 3 months after treatment.
Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 93.3% (28/30), which was significantly higher than 63.3% (19/30) in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the scores of vertigo symptom and functional evaluation scale, dizziness, neck and shoulder pain, headache, daily life, psychological and social adaptability were increased in the two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Except for a slight decrease in headache and total score at the follow-up period in the observation group, the remaining 4 individual scores were higher than those after treatment (all P<0.05). At follow-up, the total score and five individual scores were lower than those after treatment in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with those in the control group, the vertigo scale scores and the five individual scores in the observation group were increased significantly after treatment and at follow-up (P<0.05, P<0.01).
Conclusion: Needle-knife therapy combined with moxa stick pressure moxibustion can significantly relieve dizziness, headache, neck and shoulder pain in patients with CV, and can improve the quality of life . The combination therapy are better than western medicine, and have a better long-term effect.
Keywords: atlantoaxial joint; betahistine mesylate; cervical vertigo; diclofenac sodium; needle-knife therapy; pressure moxibustion therapy; randomized controlled trial (RCT).