Efficacy and Safety of CT-Verified Deep Needling at the Foramen Acupoint for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of deep needling (DN) at the foramen acupoint compared to conventional needling (CN) and Huatuo Jiaji (HJ) acupuncture for lumbar disc herniation (LDH), needle depth was verified using computed tomography (CT).

Methods

In this single-center, randomized, three-arm controlled trial, 165 participants with LDH were equally assigned to either the DN, CN, or HJ group. The DN group received needling at the foramen point to a depth of 60-70 mm, confirmed by CT to ensure it reached the outer intervertebral foramen. The CN group underwent routine-depth needling, while the HJ group received standard HJ acupuncture. Treatments were administered three times a week for 4 weeks. Primary and secondary outcomes, including the Visual Analog Scale

SUBMITTER: Hao W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC13310422 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature