NCT02770963

Efficacy of Acupuncture for Discogenic Sciatica

Efficacy of Acupuncture for Discogenic Sciatica: a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on pain relief for patients with discogenic sciatica compared with sham acupuncture.

Detailed description

Background: Sciatica is primarily caused by herniated discs with nerve-root compression. Acupuncture may effectively relieve the pain of discogenic sciatica, but the evidence is limited. Methods/Design: Sixty patients with discogenic sciatica will be recruited and randomized to receive acupuncture or sham-acupuncture at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in both groups will receive treatment 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The following acupoints will be used: Dachang shu (BL 25), Shenshu (BL 23), Weizhong (BL 40), and Chengshan (BL 57).

Conditions

• Sciatica

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Acupuncture	Shenshu (BL23) on bilateral sides and Dachangshu (BL25), Weizhong (BL40), and Chengshan (BL57) on the affected side will be applied. A Huatuo Brand needle (0.3\*75 mm) for BL25 will be inserted at a depth of 40-70 mm vertically until the patient feels soreness and a distension sensation that radiates to the leg. The needle will be lifted 1-2 mm without rotating or lifting. Huatuo Brand needles (0.3\*40 mm) at the other acupoints (BL23, BL40 and BL57) will be inserted 30 mm and manipulated by lifting, thrusting, twirling evenly until the Deqi sensation is achieved. The needles in these acupoints will be manipulated by small evenly applied lifting, thrusting, and twirling movements 3 times every 10 minutes.
PROCEDURE	Sham acupuncture	Specially designed sham needles (0.3\*25 mm) will be used. The sham needle consists of a needle handle, needle body, blunt tip and a sterile polyethylene cylindrical foam pad (identical to the pads in the acupuncture group). The acupoints will be the same as the acupuncture group. The needle will be inserted vertically until pressed against the skin without penetration. The manipulation will be consistent with the acupuncture group and blind to the patients.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-05-01
• Primary completion: 2017-12-01
• Completion: 2018-06-01
• First posted: 2016-05-12
• Last updated: 2016-05-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China