Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42365469›Full record

Trial reportPain research & management2026

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

Wang Hao, Zhang Liang-Hua, Chen Wei, Li Wei, Ning Zhen-Zhen, Yu Xiao-Gang, Bai Peng

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Pain research & management, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Wang HaoBeijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing, China, bucm.edu.cn.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1271-6542
Zhang Liang-HuaDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China, bjcy2y.com.
Chen WeiDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China, bjcy2y.com.
Li WeiDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China, bjcy2y.com.
Ning Zhen-ZhenDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China, bjcy2y.com.
Yu Xiao-GangDepartment of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China, bjcy2y.com.
Bai PengSchool of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China, bucm.edu.cn.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8911-0216

Funding

Capital's Funds for Health Improvement and Research CFH-4-7044
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo 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).

methodsIn 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 (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks.

resultsThe DN group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in VAS, JOA, and ODI scores compared to the CN and HJ groups at both 4 and 12 weeks (all p < 0.05). The total efficacy rate in the DN group was 94.44%, whereas it was 78.00% in both the CN and HJ groups at 4 weeks (p = 0.0306). CT imaging confirmed accurate needle placement in the foramen region with a mean depth of 5.91 ± 0.67 cm. No serious adverse events were reported.

conclusionCT-verified DN at the foramen acupoint is a safe and superior therapeutic strategy for LDH, emphasizing the importance of precise needling depth. This study offers a reproducible protocol for future research and clinical practice.

trial registrationChinese Registry of Clinical Trials: ChiCTR2200061374.

Indexed as

Acupuncture PointsAcupuncture TherapyIntervertebral Disc DisplacementAdultFemaleHumansLumbar VertebraeMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementTomography, X-Ray ComputedTreatment Outcomeacupuncturecomputed tomographydeep needlingforamen acupointlumbar disc herniationrandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID42365469
PMCPMC13310422

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.