Acupoint Application for Constipation in Thoracolumbar Compression Fracture

Summary

This protocol describes the use of acupoint application as an effective and safe adjuvant, non-pharmacological intervention for managing constipation in patients with thoracolumbar compression fractures.

Abstract

Thoracolumbar compression fractures (TLFs) are common spinal injuries. Due to prolonged bed rest, pain-induced stress, and other factors, the incidence of constipation in affected patients exceeds 70%, which hinders rehabilitation. This study describes the operational procedures of acupoint application for the treatment of such constipation. To do this, acupoints were selected, including Tianshu (ST25), Daheng (SP15), Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Zhigou (TE6), Chinese medicinal herbs such as Rheum officinale were ground into a paste for application, with a frequency of 1x a day, 6 h per session, and 2 weeks as one treatment course. Efficacy and safety were evaluated using the time interval to the first defecation after treatment, Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life, Visual Analog Scale scores, and adverse reactions. Forty-two patients with TLFs complicated by constipation were enrolled and randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. After 2 weeks, constipation was improved in both groups, with all efficacy indicators of the experimental group being superior to those of the control group (p <0.05). No severe adverse reactions were observed in either group. The study indicates that acupoint application can effectively improve constipation in patients with high safety, providing a non-invasive intervention protocol. In the future, it is planned to expand the sample size to conduct multi-center studies, optimize the medicinal formula and treatment course, and explore the mechanism of action to support clinical promotion.

Introduction

Thoracolumbar Compression Fractures (TLFs) are common traumatic conditions in the fields of spinal surgery and geriatrics. Their pathogenesis is closely associated with factors such as osteoporosis, trauma, and tumors, and they have a particularly high incidence in the elderly population^1,2,3,4. Postmenopausal women have a significantly increased risk of developing TLFs^3,5. In young adults, TLFs are mostly caused by trauma, with males accounting for as high as 80% of such cases

Protocol

The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ethics No. 2023SL-006). The subjects were fully informed and signed the informed consent form.​

1. Patient selection

1. Inclusion criteria
   1. Meet the diagnostic criteria for TLFs²¹; meet the diagnostic criteria for functional constipation²²; have not received any other constipation intervention treatments after fracture; able to maintain clear consciousness, be able to cooperate with treatment and efficacy evaluation, and sign the in....

Results

A total of 42 patients were included in this study, 21 cases in the experimental group and 21 cases in the control group, and no patient dropped out of the study. Table 2 and Table 3 compare the changes in four evaluation indices between the control group and the experimental group before and after treatment. The results showed that after treatment, the time interval to the first defecation, PAC-SYM, PAC-QOL, and VAS scores all improved, but the improvement in the experimental group was .......

Discussion

This study verified the efficacy and safety of acupoint application as an adjuvant therapy for constipation in patients with TLFs through a randomized controlled trial. The core results showed that, after 2 weeks of treatment, the experimental group had a shorter time interval to the first defecation after treatment, PAC-SYM, PAC-QOL, and VAS scores. The results after treatment were better than the results before treatment for both groups, and there were no serious adverse reactions. This result not only provides new evi.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Chinese herbal medicine	Hospitalof Chengdu University ofTraditional Chinese Medicine	/
75% Alcohol	Sichuan Province Yijieshi Medical Technology Co., Ltd.	250706
Disposable Medical Gloves	Guangdong Huitong Latex Products Group Co., Ltd.	20122206
Forceps	Jiangxi Province Yuyuan Medical Devices Co., Ltd.	20180132
Hand Sanitizer	Shandong Lilkang Medical Technology Co., Ltd.	25070401B
Medical Disposable Mask	Xuchang Zhende Medical Dressings Co., Ltd.	20160002
Sterile Cotton Swab	Chengdu Zhongxin Hygienic Materials Co., Ltd.	20250613
sterile medical application patches	Jiangsu Guangyi Medical Dressings Co., Ltd.	20160028