[Clinical observation on cervical headache treated with acupuncture and fire needling technique].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the efficacy in cervical headache of acupuncture combined with fire needling and the simple acupuncture therapy.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty cases were randomized into an acupuncture plus fire needling group (group A) and an acupuncture group (group B), 90 cases in each one. Baihui (GV 20), Wangu (GB 12), Fengchi (GB 20), Tianzhu (BL 10) and Neck-Jiaji (EX-B 2) were selected in the two groups. In group A, the fire needling technique was applied to all the above points before acupuncture with filiform needles. In group B, the acupuncture therapy was used only. The treatment was given once a day, the efficacy was compared between the two groups after 20 treatments.


RESULTS
The total effective rate was 95.6% (86/90) in group A and was 84. 4% (76/90) in group B, indicating the significant difference in comparison (P<0.05). VAS were 7.44+/-1.26 and 0.73+/-l. 44 before and after treatment in group A separately, those were 7.56+/-1.07 and 2. 56+/-2. 99 in group B, indicating the significant difference in comparison (P<0.01). The difference in VAS after treatment was significant between the two groups. In group A, the follow-up visit was conducted at 3 months and 6 months after treatment for the cured cases. The total recurrence rate in the patients without bony pathological changes was 14.8% (4/27) and that in the patients with bony pathological changes was 43. 5% (10/23), there was significant difference between them (P<0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
The combined therapy of fire needling technique and filiform needle acupuncture improves the efficacy and sustains the efficacy especially on cervical headache without bony pathological changing.
Pain Department of Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China. zhangxiaozhezxz@126.com
Xiao-Zhe
XZ
Zhang
Pain Department of Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
Li-Li
LL
Wang
Pain Department of Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
Yan-qing
YQ
Liu
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult