The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for Treating Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture- (OVCF-) Induced Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Table 1

Characteristics of included studies.

Author, year	Random method	Blinding	No. (acupuncture/control)	Age (years)	Acupuncture group			Control group	VAS evaluation time
					Intervention	Frequency	Treatment cycle	Intervention
Zhang W, 2015	RNT	UC	30/15	55–80	M + A	QD	3 weeks	M	1, 2, 3 weeks
Liu K, 2017	UC	UC	36/36	≥65	PKP + A	Compound therapy	6 months	PKP	3 days, 1, 6, 12 months
Huang M, 2016	UC	UC	20/20	65–88	PKP + A	QD	6 days	PKP	1 week, 1, 6 months, 1, 2 years
Liu G, 2019	RNT	UC	43/43	57–77	PVP + A	QD	30 days	PVP	7 days, 30 days
Feng MG, 2017	Draw lots	UC	75/75	50–79	PVP + A	QD	30 days	PVP	7 days, 30 days
Chen QF, 2020	RNT	UC	60/60	52–79	PVP + A	QD	30 days	PVP	7 days, 30 days
Liu ZG, 2020	RNT	UC	43/43	60–71	PVP + A	Every other day	12 weeks	PVP	12 weeks
Chen SS, 2019	RNT	UC	36/36	50–65	PKP + A	QD	2 weeks	PKP	2 weeks, 1 month
Chen ZS, 2018	RNT	UC	32/31	48–80	PVP + A	BIW	6 months	PVP	2 days, 6 months
Zhang LQ, 2020	RNT	UC	30/30	50–85	PKP + A	QD	2 weeks	PKP	1,2 weeks
Feng ZW, 2020	RNT	UC	41/39	49–72	M + A	QD	6 months	M	3 months
Ping D, 2020	RNT	UC	35/35	60–80	M + A	QD	2 month	M	1 month
Li Y, 2020	RNT	UC	45/45	61–78	M + A	QD	3 months	M	30 days
Li SM, 2018	RE	UC	50/50	62–74	A	QD	2 months	M	7,14 days

M: medicine; A: acupuncture; RNT: random number table; RE: randomized envelope; UC: unclear; QD: Quaque die; BIW: twice a week; compound therapy, early stage (1 month after surgery): QD in the first week; Qod in the second week; BIW in the third to fourth weeks. Midterm (2 to 3 months after surgery): the first week QD; 2nd week Qod; 3rd to 6th week BIW. Late stage: 3 to 6 months postoperatively.