Effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction Combined with Acupoint Application on Lumbar Function and Serum Levels of Pain Mediators in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation After Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy
Abstract:Objective:To observe the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction combined with acupoint application on lumbar function and serum levels of pain mediators in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) after unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE). Methods: A total of 104 LDH patients admitted to Nanyang First People's Hospital from July 2023 to January 2025 were selected as study subjects and divided into the acupoint application group and the combination group using the random number table method,with 52 cases in each group. The acupoint application group received acupoint application treatment,while the combination group received Buyang Huanwu Decoction in addition to the acupoint application treatment. Both groups were treated continuously for four weeks. Clinical efficacy,incidence of adverse reactions,as well as changes in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores,serum levels of pain mediators [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), neuropeptide Y (NPY), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), substance P (SP)], lumbar function [Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) assessment score], and hemorheology indicators were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results:After treatment, the total effective rate was 96.15% (50/52) in the combination group and 73.08% (38/52) in the acupoint application group, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the sub-item scores for traditional Chinese medicine syndromes (stabbing pain in the low back and leg,fixed location of pain,pain that is unbearable of pressure,stiffness of lumbar,limited mobility,paresthesia) and total scores decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and all sub-item traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores and the total score in the combination group were lower than those in the acupoint application group (P<0.05). After treatment,the serum levels of 5-HT,NPY,PGE2,and SP decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the levels of these pain mediators in the combination group were lower than those in the acupoint application group (P<0.05). After treatment,the ODI scores decreased and the JOA scores increased in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05),and the combination group had a lower ODI score and a higher JOA score than the acupoint application group (P<0.05). After treatment, the erythrocyte aggregation index, hematocrit, coagulation factor Ⅰ , and plasma viscosity decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the levels of these four hemorheology indicators in the combination group were lower than those in the acupoint application group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was 1.92% (1/52) in the combination group and 7.69% (4/52) in the acupoint application group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Buyang Huanwu Decoction combined with acupoint application demonstrates superior efficacy in treating LDH. It can effectively reduce serum levels of pain mediators, promote the recovery of lumbar function, improve traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and hemorheological condition, with a good safety profile.