Effect of acupotomy combined with Chiropractic manipulative therapy on the pain level and cervical function of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy

LIU Chun; CHEN Zhaohui

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-3429.2025.24.015

Abstract：Objective To investigate the application effect of acupotomy combined with Chiropractic manipulative therapy in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR).Methods A total of 80 patients with CSR admitted from November 2021 to October 2023 were selected.The patients were divided into observation group and conventional group by random number table method,with 40 patients in each group.The conventional group received Chiropractic manipulative therapy,and the observation group received acupotomy combined with Chiropractic manipulative therapy.The clinical efficacy of the two groups was observed,and the visual analogue scale(VAS)pain score,neck disability index(NDI)score,hemorheological indicators[plasma viscosity,whole blood viscosity(at low,medium,and high shear rate)],F-wave conduction velocities of the median and ulnar nerves,pain mediators[serum substance P,β-endorphin(β-EP),prostaglandin E2(PGE2),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)]levels before and after treatment and safety were compared between the two groups.Results The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group[95.00％(38/40)]was higher than that in the conventional group[77.50％(31/40)](P＜0.05),and after treatment,the VAS pain scores and NDI scores of the observation group were lower than those of the conventional group(P＜0.01).After treatment,the whole blood viscosity at low,medium and high shear rate and plasma viscosity in the observation group were lower than those in the conventional group,and the F-wave conduction velocities of the median and ulnar nerves was higher than that in the conventional group(P＜0.01).After treatment,compared with the conventional group,the serum PGE2,substance P,5-HT in the observation group were lower,while β-EP was higher(P＜0.01),and there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Acupotomy combined with Chiropractic manipulative therapy is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with CSR.It can promote nerve conduction,regulate hemorheological parameters,and accelerate the metabolism of pain mediators,thereby reducing the degree of pain and improving cervical spine function.