ARTICLE

Volume 4,Issue 2

All Issues
Submit to IJGPN
Cite this article
1
Citations
2
Views
31 December 2025
Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Soaking Combined with Acupoint Moxibustion for Postoperative Numbness in Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients After Transforaminal Endoscopic Surgery
Ting Liu ,  Lihai Qian
Show Less
1 First Department of Spine Surgery, Wuhu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of TCM Junior College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China,
IJGPN 2025 , 3(0), 254–264; https://doi.org/10.26689/ijgpn.v3iSpecial.13952
© 2025 by the Authors. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Download PDF
Cite
XML
HTML
Abstract

Objective: To observe the intervention effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) soaking combined with acupoint moxibustion on patients’ numbness symptoms after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A total of 80 patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent transforaminal endoscopic surgery in our hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 and experienced numbness after the operation were selected. They were divided into an observation group (40 cases) and a control group (40 cases) using a random number table method. Both groups received conventional nursing care, including bed rest and oral methylcobalamin. The control group received no additional intervention beyond this conventional care, while the observation group received additional intervention of TCM soaking combined with acupoint moxibustion on the basis of basic nursing care. The course of treatment was 1 week for both groups. The numbness Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) lumbar function score, and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups. Results: Before intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in numbness VAS score and JOA score between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 3 days and 1 week of intervention, the numbness VAS score of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After 1 week of intervention, the JOA score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), and the total effective rate (92.5%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (67.5%) (P < 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in either group. Regarding quantitative efficacy indicators, the relative risk of ineffective outcomes in the observation group was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.08–0.68), and the absolute risk reduction of ineffective outcomes was 25.0% (95% CI: 10.2–39.8), further confirming the superiority of the combined therapy. Conclusion: TCM soaking combined with acupoint moxibustion can effectively reduce the degree of numbness in patients after transforaminal endoscopic surgery, improve lumbar nerve function, and has high safety, which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

References
Zhu W, Yao Y, Hao J, et al., 2022, Short-Term Postoperative Pain and Function of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Discectomy versus Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for Single-Segment Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, 2022: 5360277.
Zhao X, Liu Y, Wang Z, et al., 2022, Factors Related to the Postoperative Recurrence of Lumbar Disc Herniation Treated by Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopy: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Surgery, 9: 1049779.
Quan W, 2021, A Study on Postoperative Nursing of Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation. Frontiers in Surgery, 8: 56321.
Shi L, Ji X, Tian F, et al., 2023, Risk Factor of Residual Leg Numbness After Lumbar Microdiscectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation. Medicine (Baltimore), 102(43): e35733.
Kim YH, Park KJ, Lee JH, et al., 2016, The Effect of GCSB-5 a New Herbal Medicine on Changes in Pain Behavior and Neuroglial Activation in a Rat Model of Lumbar Disc Herniation. Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society, 59(2): 98–105.
Kim YH, Park KJ, Lee JH, et al., 2021, Mecobalamin Treatment for Lumbar Postoperative Numbness: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques, 34(8): 478–483.
National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2012, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Criteria for TCM Syndromes, China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.
Wang C, Li M, Liu Y, et al., 2021, A Systematic Review of External Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Postoperative Complications of Lumbar Spine. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021: 6689452.
Li YG, Acupuncture, Herbal Fumigation Combined with Rehabilitation Training on Postoperative Lumbar Function in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation. Chinese Journal of Convalescent Medicine, 2020, 29(6): 630–631.
Zhou YF, Xiao Q, Li MM, 2017, Internal Work Point Combined with Moxibustion in the Treatment of Third Lumbar Transverse Process Syndrome. Acta Chinese Medicine, 32(6): 1102–1105.
Li H, Zhao J, Zhang Q, et al., 2025, Umbilical Acupuncture Combined with Warm Needle Acupuncture for the Treatment of Residual Numbness After Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery: A Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Neurology, 16: 1528411.
Spine Surgery Group, Orthopaedic Surgery Branch of Chinese Medical Association, 2022, Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation (2022 Version). Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics, 42(15): 941–950.
National Medical Products Administration, 2020, Guidelines for Clinical Research of New Traditional Chinese Medicines (2020 Edition), China Medical Science Press, Beijing, 189–192.
Huskisson EC, 1974, Measurement of Pain. The Lancet, 2(7889): 1127–1131.
Japanese Orthopaedic Association, 1984, Assessment of Surgical Treatment of Low Back Pain. J Japanese Orthop Assoc, 58(3): 291–294.
National Medical Products Administration, 2020, Guidelines for Clinical Research of New Traditional Chinese Medicines (2020 Edition), China Medical Science Press, Beijing, 201–203.
Park JH, Kim JS, Lee SW, et al., 2020, Nerve Root Edema and Microcirculation Disorder After Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy. World Neurosurgery, 139: e456–e463.
Kim YH, Park KJ, Lee JH, et al., 2021, Mecobalamin Treatment for Lumbar Postoperative Numbness: A Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques, 34(8): 478–483.
Li M, Wang C, Liu J, et al., 2022, Pharmacological Effects of Cinnamon Volatile Oil on Blood Circulation. Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 36(5): 381–388.
Zhang Y, Li D, Wang X, et al., 2023, Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Safflower Flavonoids on Nerve Root Inflammation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 307: 115987.
Wang J, Zhao H, Li Y, et al., 2021, Effect of Extract of Radix Angelicae Pubescentis on Nerve Myelin Repair. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 36(11): 6689–6694.
Liu Y, Zhang S, Wang C, et al., 2022, The Thermal Effect of Herbal Washing on Local Microcirculation. Journal of Thermal Biology, 106: 103256.
Zhou X, Li J, Wang Z, et al., 2020, Effect of Moxibustion at Shenshu Point (BL23) on Lumbar Function in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 61(8): 723–728.
Li H, Zhao J, Zhang Q, et al., 2022, Acupoint Selection for Postoperative Numbness Treatment: A Delphi Study. Journal of Clinical Complementary Therapy, 48: 101568.
Wang C, Li M, Liu Y, et al., 2023, Research Progress on the Mechanism of Moxibustion Regulating Meridian Qi. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2023: 5587432.
Zhang L, Liu J, Zhao H, et al., 2022, Moxibustion at Zusanli (ST36) Promotes Nerve Repair by Increasing VEGF Expression. Journal of Neurorestoratology, 10(2): 123–130.
Li Y, Wang J, Zhang S, et al., 2023, The “Point-Surface Combination” Mode of External Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Postoperative Numbness. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 29(3): 231–236.
Zhao X, Liu Y, Wang Z, et al., 2022, Synergistic Effect of Herbal Washing and Acupoint Moxibustion: A Pilot Trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 28(10): 897–903.
Share
Back to top
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here
Accept