Clinical observation on electroacupuncture plus hydro-acupuncture for low back pain caused by compression fractures

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points plus hydro-acupuncture with sinomenine hydrochloride for low back pain caused by compression fractures in the elderly. Methods Ninety-five elderly in-patients with low back pain caused by compression fractures were randomly divided into an observation group and an EA group according to the visit sequence. Both groups received the same basic treatment. In the EA group, 48 cases were treated with EA at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points plus the basic therapy; 47 cases in the observation group received the basic treatment plus EA and hydro-acupuncture with sinomenine hydrochloride at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points. The levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in peripheral blood were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and at the 21st day of treatment in both groups. Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were used to analyze the clinical efficacy. Results After treatment, the OPG content in the observation group was higher with statistical significance compared with that before treatment in the observation group and after the treatment in the EA group, respectively (both P <0.05); the content of IL-1β, ODI and VAS scores were lower than those before treatment in the observation group and after treatment in the EA group with statistical significances (all P <0.05). Conclusion The combination of EA and hydro-acupuncture with sinomenine hydrochloride at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points is effective for low back pain caused by compression fractures in the elderly, and is superior to EA at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points alone.