Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus warming-needle moxibustion for the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Methods Sixty patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly divided into a warming-needle moxibustion group (group A) and an acupuncture group (group B) according to random number table, with thirty cases in each group. For the patients in the group A, Fengchi (GB 20), Jingjiaji (Jiaji points on the neck), Dazhui (GV 14), Dazhu (BL 11), Jugu (Bit LI 16), Tianzong(Sill), Tianliao (TE 15), Jianjing (GB 21) and Hegu (LI 4) were selected for warming-needle moxibustion. In the group B, Jianliao (TE 14), Jianyu (LI 15), Quchi (LI 11), Tianjing (TE 10), Yangchi (TE 4), and Waiguan (TE 5) were selected for acupuncture. Both groups were treated once a day and ten times constituted a course of treatment. Results Compared with the group B, significant differences were observed in the group A after a course of treatment in terms of 20-score scoring for symptoms of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, VAS scoring and clinical efficacy [16.63 +/- 2.31 vs 15.67 +/- 2.48, 2.36 +/- 1.59 vs 3.98 +/- 2.32, 100% (30/30) vs 86.7%, all P<0.05]. Conclusion Acupuncture plus warming-needle moxibustion can significantly reduce neck pain and improve neck function of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, which is worthy of clinical application due to its simple manipulation.
