Clinical and imaging study on the treatment of lumbar disc herniation by fixed-point reposition and crude herb moxibustion

Objective: To observe the effects of fixed-point reposition combined with crude herb moxibustion on lumbar disc herniation. Methods: From September 2010 to June 2013, 624 patients with LDH were enrolled into the study. Among the patients, 326 patients were male and 298 patients were female, ranging in age from 12 to 78 years (averaged 48 year). Fixed-point reposition was used to resume mechanics balance of lumbar vertebra. Crude herb moxibustion was used on patients' pain part of lumbar vertebra and the acupoints. The total curative effects were evaluated. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed respectively, including visual analogue score (VAS) and Japanese orthopaedics lumbodorsal pain score (JOA). MRI or CT was used to measure the size and position of the protruded nucleus pulposus (size of disc protrution and the angle between nerve root canal and disc protrution). Results: In the study, 342 patients were cured, 254 patients became better, and 28 patients were inefficient, with the total effective rate was 95.51%. VAS and JOA scores were improved after treatment (P < 0.01). No significant changes in the shape and size of protrude nucleus pulposus after treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion: It is worth clinical application and generalization that the good way treats lumbar disc herniation by using fixedpoint reposition combined with crude herb moxibustion. However, the shape and size of protrude nucleus pulposus has no paralleled relation with clinical mainfestations according to imaging study. (authors)