Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of cervical spondylosis treated by acupotomy and bone setting.

Methods: 164 cases of cervical spondylosis were divided into two groups. Group I (108 cases) was treated with acupotomy and bone setting. The patient was in a sitting position. The three dimension diagnostic method was applied to the neck and shoulder to localize the path-node points on the superficial skin, the tender points on the middle muscle and the focus on the deep bone. The tender points on the middle 1ayer or the nodes on the muscle and Jiaji (EX-B2) points were firstly selected for acupotomy. Generally, 3 to 6 points were selected and sterilized, covered with the operation towel, then the thee dimension acupotomy method was applied under strict sterilization. After that, the bone setting was given to relax muscles and improve the movement of cerebrae. The frequency and treating course of acupotomy and bone-setting method: (l) Acupotomy was applied once a week and 4 times made one course, generally, 1 to 3 courses were required; (2) Bone-setting method was applied twice a week and 8 times made a course, generally, 2 to 6 courses were required. Group II (56 cases) was treated with digital massage. The thumb pressed the EX-B2 points and tender points. After pain relieving, the manipulation for relaxing muscles and improving vertebra movement were given. The treatment was applied 3 times a week and 12 treatments made one course. Generally, 2 to 6 courses were required. After treatment, all of the cases were observed by letter communication and clinical follow-up visiting for 1 to 3 months.

Results: (l) Criteria of therapeutic effect: a) clinical curing: the symptoms and signs disappeared and the patients could work normally as before; b) remarkably effective: the symptoms and sign basically disappeared, and the patients could keep on working; c) effective: the symptoms and signs were improved and the Patients could do a little work; d) no effect: no improvement of symptoms and signs and the patients required rest and further treatment; (2). The therapeutic effect: Group I, of 108 cases, 56 cases (51.9%) were clinically cured, 32 cases (29.6%) remarkably effective, 16 cases (14.8%) effective, 4 cases (3.7%) had no effect the total effective rats was 96.3%. Group II, of 56 cases, 14 cases (25.0%) were clinically cured, 6 cases (10.7%) remarkably effective, 26 cases (46.4%) effective, 10 cases (17.9%) had no effect and the total effective rate was 82. l%. The remarkably effective rates were 81.5% and 35.7% in Group 1 and 11 respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.0l) between the two groups in the therapeutic effect.

Conclusion: The acupotomy and bone setting method is more advantageous than the digital
Pressing method. Acupotomy can directly work on the affected area to remove masses and stop pain effectively by rapid arrival of qi. The bone setting can effectively relax muscles and improve the movement of joints. The functions of acupotomy and bone setting supplement to achieve a better therapeutic effect.

By Jin Huisheng, Jin He