Acupotomy combined with fire needle for sacral nerve dysfunction syndrome:A randomized, single-blind clinical trial

Abstract Objective: To provide the clinical evidence to evaluate the feasibility and refine the protocol for acupotomy combined with fire needle and pudendal nerve block therapy in treatment of sacral nerve dysfunction syndrome(SNDS). Methods: Seventy-five patients with SNDS were randomized into the treatment group (acupotomy and fire needle and pudendal nerve block therapy) and the control group (pudendal nerve block therapy). After a course of treatment, Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) of anorectal pain, defecation disorders, anal incontinence, VAS of lumbar pain or soreness, VAS of abdominal distension and pain were compared before and after the treatment. Result: Scores of defecation disorders, including defecation interval time index, defecation time index, fecal property index and defecation difficulty index, of patients with SNDS in the two groups were statistically different before and after the treatment in the same group (all P 0.05) after the treatment,. Scores of anal incontinence, VAS scores of lumbar pain or soreness, VAS scores of abdominal pain and distension in the two groups were statistically different before and after the treatment (all P 0.05). VAS scores of anorectal pain in the two groups were statistically different before and after the treatment (both P 0.05). Conclusion: In treating SNDS, acupotomy combined with fire needle and pudendal nerve block therapy can more effectively alleviate anorectal pain and improve the total effective rate.