Effects of Shinbaro Pharmacopuncture in Sciatic Pain Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation

Summary

This trial will evaluate the comparative clinical effectiveness of pharmacopuncture for severe non-acute sciatic pain patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with usual care of conventional medicine and that of Korean medicine (acupuncture). Sixty patients with severe non-acute sciatic pain patients diagnosed with LDH (NRS ≥5, 4 weeks - 6 months) will be recruited, and randomized 20 each to the Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, and usual care group, respectively. The 2 acupuncture groups will receive 2 sessions/week of acupuncture alone or with pharmacopuncture for 4 weeks, and the usual care group will receive conventional medication 2 times/day and 2 sessions/week of physical therapy. Post-treatment evaluations will take place 5, 7, 9, and 12 weeks after randomization.

Conditions

• Sciatica
• Intervertebral Disc Displacement

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Shinbaro pharmacopuncture

Pharmacopuncture is a treatment that combines 2 of the most frequented Korean medicine treatment methods - traditional acupuncture and herbal medicine - by injecting herbal medicine extract at acupoints. One Hyeopcheok (Huatuo Jiaji, EX B2) acupoint most relevant to patient symptoms with reference to MRI will be administered Shinbaro pharmacopuncture.

DEVICE

Acupuncture

Five acupoints will be needled to about 1cm depth assisted by an acupuncture guide tube with no manual stimulation such as twirling or lifting and thrusting.

DRUG

Conventional medicine

Conventional drugs will be prescribed in an individually-tailored, pragmatic method with reference to most frequently used treatments in patients with a primary diagnosis of LDH (KCD disease classification: M51, M541) according to Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) 2011 statistics. The most frequently prescribed conventional drugs for LDH include aceclofenac (Drug class: nonsteroidal antiinflammatoy drugs (NSAIDs)), tramadol hydrochloride (Drug class: Opioids), talniflumate (Drug class: NSAIDs), diclofenac sodium (Drug class: NSAIDs), and loxoprofen sodium (Drug class: NSAIDs).

PROCEDURE

Physical therapy

Physical therapy will be prescribed with reference to most frequently used treatments in patients with a primary diagnosis of LDH (KCD disease classification: M51, M541) according to Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) 2011 statistics.

BEHAVIORAL

Educational program

Educational program sessions supervised by physicians will be provided once a week for 4 weeks.The education program will inform the patient of the favorable prognosis of LDH, and instructions for everyday activities and self-management. The education program will consist of handbooks handed out to each participant, and weekly reminders and encouragement from the physician.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jaseng Medical Foundation

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jinho Lee · Jaseng Medical Foundation

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

25 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-09-09

Primary Completion

2017-01-31

Completion

2017-03-16

Countries

• South Korea

Study Locations