title: [Analysis of therapeuttic effect of lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the differences of therapeutic effect in lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians and Methylcobalamin with oral administration, and explore the best time for plum-blossom needle intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty cases of lower limb sensation disorder caused by nucleus pulposus discectomy of lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into a plum-blossom needle group (40 cases) and a western medication group (40 cases). In plum-blossom needle group, tapping with plum-blossom needle along meridians was received, the meridians located at sensation areas which were dominated by relevant segmental nerve root in operation were selected: the lower limb section of the Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin was selected for operation at L3/L4; the lower limb section of the Gall Bladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang was selected for operation at L4 /L5; the lower limb section of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang was selected for operation at L5/S1; once treatment was applied every 3 days, and 20 times treatments were applied totally. In western medication group, Methylcobalamin was orally taken for 500 microg, 3 times a day. The recovery of lower limb sensation disorder was evaluated and compared by the comprehensive evaluation method of sensory function of body nerve after 2 months in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total effective rate was 90.0% (36/40) in plum-blossom needle group, superior to that of 60.0% (24/40) in western medication group (P < 0.05). In plum-blossom needle group, the effect for the cases which received treatment within one month after operation was superior to that received treatment during 1-3 months after operation (P < 0.05); and there was no significant differences between the cases which received the treatment during 1-3 months after operation and more than 3 months after operation (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic effect of lower limb sensation disorder after lumbar disc herniation operation treated with plum-blossom needle along meridians is superior to that of Methylcobalamin with oral administration; the plum-blossom needle intervention within one month after operation can receive the best effect.
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of CM, Wuxi 214001, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ya-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D008875:Middle Aged; D012677:Sensation; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000628:therapy*