Objective: To evaluate and compare the clinical therapeutic effects of prolapse of lumbar intervetebral disc treated with the pressure reducing method by interosseous space needling technique and the modern standard acupuncture respectively.

Methods: "Single blind methods: was applied in the comparison. The seventy of the lumbar and leg pain and the clinical symptoms and sign were qualified. The improving rates of those were taken as the evaluating index. In the treatment, the lumbar Jiaji points were selected. In the observed group, filiform needles, were applied and punctured deeply and perpendicularly to the vetebral lamina periosteum. In the control group, filiform needles, were applied and punctured obliquely, 0.5 to 1cm deep. The needles were manipulated slowly by lifting, thrusting and rotating techniques and retained for half an hour.

Results: Of 71 cases in the observed group, 48 cases (67.6%) were remarkably effective and of 68 cases in the control, 19 cases (27.9%) remarkably effective. The comparison of the effective rates of the two groups indicated significant difference (x2=7.84, p<0.0l). The therapeutic effect in the observed group was more satisfactory than the control.

Conclusion: For the pressure reducing method by the interosseous space needling technique, the arrival of qi was only obtained by the needle punctured deeply to the periosteum, otherwise the therapeutic result was much reduced. The pressure reducing method by the interosseous space needling technique improved clinical symptoms and signs as well as the daily life quality in the treatment of LIDP and its therapeutic effect was more significant than the normal standard acupuncture since it strengthened the pressure reducing function. The pressure reducing method by the interosseous space needling technique was worth spreading.

By Zhang Zhihong, Zhang Yi, Wei Yizhong