Suture Embedding Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain

Suture Embedding Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a common public health issue, and it is one of the main causes of disability among adults of working age. Suture embedding acupuncture is one of the most often used interventions for the treatments of cLBP. The investigators will investigate the efficacy and safety of suture embedding acupuncture for cLBP in this single center, parallel, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Low Back Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Suture Embedding Acupuncture; Other: Sham Acupuncture

Detailed Description

Suture embedding acupuncture is one of the most often used interventions for the treatments of chronic low back pain (cLBP). The investigators will investigate the efficacy and safety of suture embedding acupuncture for cLBP in this single center, parallel, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.

Participants will be randomized into 2 groups (real acupuncture and sham acupuncture) by central allocation. Randomized participants will complete a questionnaire that solicited information regarding age, sex, marital status, occupation, education, and medical history. The blinding credibility of the treatments will be evaluated at the end of the treatment.

Real Suture embedding Acupuncture for Treatment Group To make the real suture embedding acupuncture treatment reflect an ordinary clinical practice condition, participants received standardized acupuncture treatment. That treatment was accomplished by selecting a group of acupuncture points that predefined. Acupuncture points will be bladder meridian pattern acupuncture points including Shenshu (BL23), Qihaishu (BL24), Dachangshu (BL25), and Yimmen (BL37). Treatment will be given using sterile, disposable stainless steel 23G or 25G injection needles with 1 mm 5.0 Vicryl suture inside the needle. The needles will be inserted perpendicular to a depth of 5 to 35 mm depending on the acupuncture point, which was followed by manual stimulation by bidirectional rotation to induce Deqi sensation. Deqi was defined as a dull, localized, and aching sensation, which signaled the attainment of qi. After the Deqi sensation being achieved, the suture will be embedded with a sterile stainless steel needle. After needle removal, a 5mm × 5 mm sterile tape will be adhered to the needle hole. Patients will be asked not to remove the tape unless necessary.

Sham Acupuncture for Control Group Treatment will be given using sterile, disposable stainless steel 30G or 32G acupuncture needles. The acupuncture points will be the same as real suture embedding acupuncture group. The needles will be inserted perpendicular to a depth of 5 to 35 mm depending on the acupuncture point and will be pulled up immediately. After sham acupuncture, the point will be adhered a sterile tape as real group. Patients will be asked not to remove the tape unless necessary.

Outcome Measures Primary Outcome Measure The primary outcome measure is VAS for LBP. To understand the impact of cLBP on the participants' life, VAS for bothersomeness is chosen instead of pain intensity. The participants will be asked to mark, on a 10 cm VAS (0, absence of bothersomeness; 10, the worst bothersomeness imaginable), the average degree of bothersomeness due to LBP experienced within the most recent 1 week from the day of the assessment. This measurement has substantial validity. Bothersomeness of LBP will be measured at baseline, 2-, 4-, 8-, 12-, 16-, 20-, and 24-week. The primary endpoint is the 8-week follow-up (i.e., 4 wk after finishing all of the treatments).

Secondary Outcome Measures VAS for pain intensity is a simple method evaluating the subjective intensity of pain. Pain intensity will be measured in the same way as VAS for bothersomeness. Validity of its reliability has been demonstrated. The Chinese version Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is used to measure back pain-related dysfunction. Health-related quality of life will be measured using the well-validated EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D). A higher score is indicative of a better general health status. Participants satisfaction will be evaluated with 5 point scale (1 is worst, and 5 is best)

Statistical Analyses To determine appropriate sample size, the VAS mean difference between the 2 groups will be assumed to be 1.5 and standard deviation to be 2.73 cm with significance level([alpha]) = 0.05 and power(1-ß) = 0.80. For the equal allocation for the 2 groups, total sample size considering dropout rate of 20% will be calculated as 130 subjects, which means that at least 104 subjects would finally be required after drop outs. The investigators performed the Shapiro-Wilk normality test to determine whether or not the sample values followed a normal distribution and finally assumed normality according to the test result. For all statistical analysis, SPSS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) will be used. Significance level will be set at P < 0.05. Per protocol (PP) analysis included all participants randomized and followed up until the last follow-up point.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 51
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan, 110
    • Taipei Medical University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• cLBP lasting for at least the last 3 months.
• 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) for bothersomeness of LBP exceeding 4.
• Nonspecific and uncomplicated LBP that was intact on neurological examination.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria are sciatic pain (i.e., if a patient reported typical radiating pain in the leg as well as one or more neurological indications of nerve root tension or neurological deficit)
• Pain mainly below the knee; serious spinal disorders including malignancy, vertebral fracture, spinal infection, inflammatory spondylitis and cauda equine compression; history of previous spinal surgery or scheduled surgery to address a chronic disease that could interfere with treatment effects (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and epilepsy);
• Acupuncture treatment of LBP during the previous month
• Conditions that could compromise the safety of acupuncture (e.g., clotting disorders, taking anticoagulant agent, pregnancy, and seizure disorders);
• Severe psychiatric or psychological disorder
• Use of corticosteroids, narcotics or herbal medicine to treat LBP within one month.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Suture Embedding Acupuncture; Suture Embedding Acupuncture 1 time for two weeks, total 3 times.	Other: Suture Embedding Acupuncture; Suture Embedding Acupuncture at 8 acupoints (both sides of BL23, BL24, BL25, BL37). Receiving intervention 1 time in 2 weeks, and total receive 3 times.
Sham Comparator: Sham acupuncture; Sham Acupuncture 1 time for two weeks, total 3 times.	Other: Sham Acupuncture; Sham Acupuncture at 8 acupoints (both sides of BL23, BL24, BL25, BL37). Receiving intervention 1 time in 2 weeks, and total receive 3 times.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
VAS	The patients will be asked to mark, on a 10 cm VAS (0, absence of bothersomeness; 10, the worst bothersomeness imaginable)	2 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)	The self-completed questionnaire contains ten topics concerning intensity of pain, lifting, ability to care for oneself, ability to walk, ability to sit, sexual function, ability to stand, social life, sleep quality, and ability to travel	2 week
EQ-5D	In description part, health status is measured in terms of five dimensions (5D); mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. In evaluation part, the respondents evaluate their overall health status using the visual analogue scale.	2 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Taipei Medical University Hospital
• Investigators: Study Chair: Chien-Huang Lin, PhD, Taipei Medical University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Manheimer E, White A, Berman B, Forys K, Ernst E. Meta-analysis: acupuncture for low back pain. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Apr 19;142(8):651-63. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-142-8-200504190-00014. Erratum In: Ann Intern Med. 2005 Jun 7;142(11):950-1.
• Fan Z. Observation on 105 cases of duodenal bulbar ulcer treated by combined therapy of catgut embedding and Chinese drugs. J Tradit Chin Med. 2001 Jun;21(2):111-5. No abstract available.
• Cho YJ, Song YK, Cha YY, Shin BC, Shin IH, Park HJ, Lee HS, Kim KW, Cho JH, Chung WS, Lee JH, Song MY. Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a multicenter, randomized, patient-assessor blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Apr 1;38(7):549-57. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e318275e601.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 12, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 13, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 13, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 25, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): September 26, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 10, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 9, 2024
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: N201807035

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No