Qingxi Meng1, Xin Liu1, Qunqun Shan1, Peng Yu2, Zhaohu Mao1, Fan Zhang1, Jian Li1, Tingbao Zhao1. 1. Department of Spinal Cord Injury, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Chinese PLA, General Hospital of Jinan Military Area Command, Jinan, Shandong, China. 2. The First Veteran Institute of Jinan Military Region, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We explored the effect of adjunctive acupuncture on secondary osteoporosis in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS:Patients with subacute SCI were recruited and divided into two groups by patient choice: group 1 patients received standard combination therapy and group 2 patients received combination therapy plus acupuncture for 3 months. The concentrations of IgG, IgM and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) in serum and the bone mineral density were measured before and after treatment. RESULT: The decrease in the concentration of TNFα and IgM in patients in group 2 compared with those in group 1 was statistically significant. The IgG level showed no significant change in either group. Bone mineral density increased more after adjunctive acupuncture, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to determine whether acupuncture as an adjunct to combination therapy can reduce osteoporosis in patients with subacute SCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: P153-2008-36. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: We explored the effect of adjunctive acupuncture on secondary osteoporosis in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS:Patients with subacute SCI were recruited and divided into two groups by patient choice: group 1 patients received standard combination therapy and group 2 patients received combination therapy plus acupuncture for 3 months. The concentrations of IgG, IgM and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) in serum and the bone mineral density were measured before and after treatment. RESULT: The decrease in the concentration of TNFα and IgM in patients in group 2 compared with those in group 1 was statistically significant. The IgG level showed no significant change in either group. Bone mineral density increased more after adjunctive acupuncture, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to determine whether acupuncture as an adjunct to combination therapy can reduce osteoporosis in patients with subacute SCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: P153-2008-36. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Authors: Nour Zleik; Frances Weaver; Robert L Harmon; Brian Le; Reshmitha Radhakrishnan; Wanda D Jirau-Rosaly; B Catharine Craven; Mattie Raiford; Jennifer N Hill; Bella Etingen; Marylou Guihan; Michael H Heggeness; Cara Ray; Laura Carbone Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2018-05-10 Impact factor: 1.985