Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Treating Sciatica: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 3

Summary of studies included in the review.

Author	Design	Number of subjects	Intervention type (A)	Control group (B)	Treatment regimen	Follow-up periods	Outcome measure	Results reported	Adverse events
Wang and La 2004 [20]	Parallel, 2 arms	40; (23/17)	EA	Diclofenac sodium 50 mg tid for 7 d	1 session once a day for 7 days	NR	(1) Laseque's sign angles; (2) VAS	(1) (A) versus (B): 76.67 ± 1.63 versus 70.88 ± 2.11; (2) (A) versus (B): 25.71 ± 2.27 versus 35.33 ± 2.57	NR
Chen et al. 2009 [21]	Parallel, 3 arms	90; (30/30/30)	WA	(1) Nimesulide 0.1 g bid; (2) Acupuncture points injection	3 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR	(1) Response rate; (2) PT	(1) (A) significantly better than (B) (, 90% versus 73.33%); (2) 2.62 ± 0.59 versus 1.54 ± 0.39	NR
Zeng 2012 [22]	Parallel, 2 arms	60; (30/30)	MA; Pricking blood	Ibuprofen 3 mg bid + Vb2 10 mg tid	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR	(1) Response rate; (2) BRS-6; (3) VAS	(A) significantly better than (B) (1) (, 83.3% versus 70%); (2) 4.87 ± 1.50 versus 5.87 ± 1.89; (3) 2.07 ± 1.05 versus 2.70 ± 1.34	NO
Zhang et al. 2008 [23]	Parallel, 2 arms	194; (98/96)	EA	Meloxicam 7.5 mg qd	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR	Response rate	(A) significantly better than (B); (, 86.53% versus 75%)	3 patients reported hypodermal bleeding in intervention group; 21 patients in control group reported GI problems
Hu et al. 2010 [24]	Parallel, 2 arms	100; (50/50)	EA	Meloxicam 7.5 mg qd	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	Six month	Response rate	(A) significantly better than (B); (, 94% versus 80%); after half year follow-up 83% versus 70%	5 patients in control group reported GI problems
Du et al. 2009 [25]	Parallel, 2 arms	62; (32/30)	EA	Diclofenac sodium 75 mg qd	4 sessions 3 times per week	NR	(1) JOA for total score; (2) VAS	(1) 20.16 ± 3.54 versus 17.63 ± 3.23; (2) 2.12 ± 1.12 versus 2.10 ± 1.39	NR
Chen 2010 [26]	Parallel, 2 arms	60; (30/30)	MA	Ibuprofen 0.2 g tid + prednisone 30 mg qd	2 sessions 3 times per week	NR	(1) Response rate; (2) VAS; (3) MOS SF-36	(1) (A) significantly better than (B); (, 100% versus 83.3%); (2) VAS 2.78 ± 1.02 versus 4.64 ± 3.21; (3) MOS SF-36 for GH 57.76 ± 15.20 versus 59.07 ± 15.08	2 patients reported hypodermal bleeding in intervention group
Wang 2008 [27]	Parallel, 2 arms	104; (52/52)	WA	Ibuprofen 0.6 g bid + Vb1 30 mg tid	2 sessions once daily for 10 days	NR	Response rate	(A) significantly better than (B); (, 96.2% versus 71.2%)	NR
Meng 2014 [28]	Parallel, 2 arms	60; (30/30)	EA + drugs; (same as control group)	Ibuprofen 20 mg bid + Vb1 30 mg tid	2 sessions once daily for 7 days	NR	(1) Response rate; (2) VAS	(1) (A) significantly better than (B); (, 93.33% versus 43.33%); (2) 3.04 ± 0.53 versus 4.28 ± 0.62	NO
Ren 2013 [29]	Parallel, 2 arms	60; (30/30)	WA + drugs; (same as control group)	Mannitol 150 mL + dexamethasone 10 mg i.v.gtt and mecobalamin tablets 0.5 mg I.M.	1 session once a day for 10 days	NR	Response rate	(A) significantly better than (B); (, 93.3% versus 60%)	NR
Zhao 2004 [30]	Parallel, 2 arms	60; (30/30)	EA	Sham acupuncture	2 sessions once a day for 10 days	NR	Response rate	(A) significantly better than (B); (, 97.7% versus 73.3%)	NO

NR: not reported, EA: electroacupuncture, WA: warm acupuncture, i.v.gtt: intravenous drip, I.M.: intramuscular injection, VAS: Visual Analogue Scale, SF MPQ: Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, PT: pain threshold, JOA: Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, BRS-6: 6-point behavior rating scale, MOS SF-36: the medical outcome study item short form health survey, GI: gastrointestinal, and GH: general health.