Objective: To observe the effect of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy on pain degree, quality of life, serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in patients with intercostal pain after surgery for osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and explore the application value of Fu's subcutaneous needling in treatment of post-operative intercostal pain.
Methods: A total of 60 patients with intercostal pain after OVCF surgery were divided into a medication group and a Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group, with 30 cases in each group. In the medication group, zoledronic acid injection, salmon calcitonin injection, calcitonin D tablets and mecobalamin tablets were prescribed. The duration of treatment was 8 weeks. In the Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group, on the base of treatment as the medicine group, Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy was provided for 2 weeks，once every other day. The needle is inserted 6 cm away from the most painful point. Separately, in 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the generic quality of life inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) were adopted to evaluate intercostal pain and quality of life in the patients of both groups and analyze the incidence of adverse reaction. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY.
Results: Compared with the results before treatment, in 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, VAS scores of both groups were all reduced (P<0.05), GQOLI-74 scores increased obviously (P<0.05) and the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY increased obviously (P<0.05) in the two groups. In 2, 4 and 8 weeks of treatment as well as in 16 weeks after treatment, VAS score in the Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05), GQOLI-74 score and the levels of serum 5-HT and NPY were higher than those in the medication group (P<0.05). During the treatment and in 16 weeks after treatment, the difference was not significant in the incidence of adverse reaction between the two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy can relieve intercostal pain and improves the quality of life in the patients after surgery for OVCF.
目的：观察浮针疗法对骨质疏松性胸椎压缩骨折(OVCF)术后遗留肋间痛患者疼痛程度、生活质量、血清5-羟色胺(5-HT)及神经肽Y(NPY)的影响，探讨浮针疗法在OVCF术后遗留肋间痛治疗中的应用价值。方法：60例OVCF术后遗留肋间痛患者随机分为药物组和浮针组，每组30例。药物组给予唑来膦酸注射液、鲑鱼降钙素注射液、钙尔奇D片及甲钴胺片治疗8周。浮针组在药物组治疗的基础上给予2周的浮针治疗, 隔日治疗1次，以肋间最痛点旁开6 cm处作为进针点，皮下留针24 h。于治疗2、4、8周及治疗后16周，分别用视觉模拟量尺(VAS)评分法和生活质量综合评定量表(GQOLI-74)评价两组患者肋间疼痛及生活质量情况，并分析两组不良反应发生率，用放射免疫法检测两组患者血清5-HT和NPY的含量。结果：与本组治疗前比较，治疗2、4、8周及治疗后16周，两组患者VAS评分均明显降低(P<0.05)，GQOLI-74评分、血清5-HT和NPY含量均明显升高(P<0.05)。治疗2、4、8周及治疗后16周，浮针组VAS评分明显低于药物组(P<0.05)，GQOLI-74评分、血清5-HT和NPY含量明显高于药物组(P<0.05)。在治疗期及治疗后16周内，两组不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论：浮针治疗可显著改善OVCF术后遗留肋间痛，并改善患者的生活质量。.
Keywords: Fu’s subcutaneous needling; Intercostal pain; Osteoporotic thoracic vertebral compression fracture.