Study Design
The detailed study process is illustrated in Fig. 1. We design this multicenter, parallel-group, patient-assessor blinded RCT following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) and the Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines [15, 16]. The trial will be conducted in 4 hospitals in China, including Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences; Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine and Peking University Third Hospital. The Research Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine has approved the study protocol (version 2.0, 13 January 2020) with an approval number of 2020BZHYLL0105. It was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn) on 9th March 2020 with the registration number of ChiCTR2000030680. The protocol is reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items (SPIRIT) (Additional file 1).
Patients
Eligible patients will be recruited from outpatient clinics through advertisements on posters and WeChat. Sciatica is defined in this trial as unilateral radiating leg pain with positive straight-leg raise test or at least one neurological deficit symptoms as paraesthesia, muscle weakness, or reflex abnormalities. Imaging evidence of lumbar disc herniation is requested on either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). Eligibility criteria include (1) age between 18 and 70 years; (2) symptoms persist over 1 week from the onset; (3) leg pain intensity over 40 mm measured by VAS [17].
Patients will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria : (1) patients who have or are suspected to have severe spinal disease (e.g., cauda equina syndrome) or progressive neurological symptoms (e.g., progressive muscle weakness); (2) patients with sciatica caused by other conditions than lumbar disc herniation; (3) patients who have undergone surgery for lumbar disc herniation within the past 6 months; (4) patients who plan to have spinal surgery or other interventional therapies during the first 4 weeks of the trial; (5) patients continually taking antiepileptic medication, antidepressant medication, opioids or corticosteroids; (6) patients who have cardiovascular, liver, kidney, or hematopoietic system diseases, mental health disorders, or other severe coexisting diseases (e.g., cancer); (7) patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to conceive during the trial; (8) patients who received acupuncture therapy within the past 1 year.
Randomization
Randomization will be conducted by the central block randomization method using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 21.0 (International Business Machines Corporation, China). Eligible patients will be assigned randomly into the DAM group, NAM group, or SA group in a 1:1:1 ratio. An independent researcher will implement the allocation schedule through a centralized telephone randomization procedure. Before randomization, trial information will be provided to each eligible patient. Written informed consent will be requested subsequently.
Blinding
Patients, outcome assessors and statistician will be blinded to the assignment. Differences between groups present mainly at point selections and acupuncture performance. Blunt-tipped needles for blinding will be similar to conventional needles. Adhesive foam pads will be put on treating points to cover the difference in acupuncture performance (Fig. 2).
Interventions
All patients will receive advice for managing sciatica in daily life such as remaining active, using a hard bed, or losing weight. Based on the assignment, they will receive 12 sessions of 30-min treatments over 4 weeks (ideally 3 times a week with an interval of 1 or 2 days). Acupoints are predefined based on experienced acupuncturists’ consensus and literature review [18]. Locations of acupoints are all according to the WHO Standard Acupuncture Locations shown in Table 1, Table 2, and Fig. 3 [19]. Patients could ask for Celebrex (Pfizer Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd) from researchers with guidance and the use will be recorded in detail. To promote recruitment as well as compliance, all treatment during the study will be offered freely.
Table 1
Location of acupoints in DAM group
Acupoints | Location |
Dachangshu (BL25) | In the lumbar region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4), 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior median line. |
Guanyuanshu (BL26) | In the lumbar region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5), 1.5 cun lateral to the posterior median line |
Huantiao (GB30) | In the buttock region, at the junction of the lateral one third and medial two thirds of the line connecting the prominence of the greater trochanter with the sacral hiatus. |
Fengshi (GB31) | On the lateral aspect of the thigh, in the depression posterior to the iliotibial band where the tip of the middle finger rests, when standing up with the arms hanging alongside the thigh. |
Xiyangguan (GB33) | On the lateral aspect of the knee, in the depression between the biceps femoris tendon and the iliotibial band, posterior and proximal to the lateral epicondyle of the femur. |
Yanglingquan (GB34) | On the fibular aspect of the leg, in the depression anterior and distal to the head of the fibula. |
Xuanzhong (GB39) | On the fibular aspect of the leg, anterior to the fibula, 3 cun proximal to the prominence of the lateral malleolus. |
Zhibian (BL54) | In the buttock region, at the same level as the fourth posterior sacral foramen, 3 cun lateral to the median sacral crest. |
Chengfu (BL36) | In the buttock region, at the midpoint of the gluteal fold. |
Weizhong (BL40) | On the posterior aspect of the knee, at the midpoint of the popliteal crease. |
Chengshan (BL57) | On the posterior aspect of the leg, at the connecting point of the calcaneal tendon with the two muscle bellies of the gastrocnemius muscle. |
Kunlun (BL60) | On the posterolateral aspect of the ankle, in the depression between the prominence of the lateral malleolus and the calcaneal tendon. |
One “cun” is defined as the width of the interphalangeal joint of patient’s thumb. |
Table 2
Location of acupoints in NAM group
Acupoints | Location |
Yaoyan (EX-B7) | In the lumbar region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4), 3.5 cun lateral to the posterior median line. |
Pigen (EX-B4) | In the lumbar region, at the same level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the first lumbar vertebra (L1), 3.5 cun lateral to the posterior median line. |
Yinbao (LR9) | On the medial aspect of the thigh, between the gracilis and the sartorius muscles, 4 cun proximal to the base of the patella. |
Ququan (LR8) | On the medial aspect of the knee, in the depression medial to the tendons of the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus muscles, at the medial end of the popliteal crease. |
Ligou (LR5) | On the anteromedial aspect of the leg, at the centre of the medial border (surface) of the tibia, 5 cun proximal to the prominence of the medial malleolus. |
Fuliu (KI7) | On the posteromedial aspect of the leg, anterior to the calcaneal tendon, 2 cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus. |
Gongsun (SP4) | On the medial aspect of the foot, anteroinferior to the base of the first metatarsal bone, at the border between the red and white flesh. |
One “cun” is defined as the width of the interphalangeal joint of patient’s thumb. |
DAM group
Semi-standardized treatment will be provided with acupoints on affected meridians in this group. There will be four obligatory acupoints and five adjunct acupoints. Obligatory acupoints are bilateral Dachangshu (BL25) and Guanyuanshu (BL26). Depending on the distribution of the pain, sciatica localized at the side of the affected leg will be treated with adjunct acupoints on gallbladder meridian including Huangtiao (GB30), Fengshi (GB31), Xiyangguan (GB33), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Xuanzhong (GB39). Sciatica localized at the back of the affected leg will be treated with adjunct acupoints on bladder meridian including Zhibian (BL54), Chengfu (BL36), Weizhong (BL40), Chengshan (BL57), and Kunlun (BL60). For patients with pain in both side and back, adjunct acupoints will be selected from the ten adjunct acupoints above based on the personal experiences of acupuncturists.
After strict disinfection of the skin around acupoints and acupuncturists’ hands using 75% alcohol, adhesive foam pads (10-mm diameter and 5-mm height) will be placed on all acupoints with patients in a prone position. Disposable stainless steel acupuncture needles (0.30 × 75 mm, Suzhou Huatuo Medical Instrument Co, Ltd) will be inserted in BL25 and BL26 on the affected side deeply to 40–70 mm. After performing twirling, lifting and thrusting manipulations for about 10 seconds, patients are expected to have “de qi” sensation (a complex feeling including soreness, numbness, heaviness, distention and dull pain, etc) radiating down to the affected leg. Other acupoints will be treated with needles (0.30mm × 40/50/75 mm) inserted to normal depths to reach “de qi” sensation locally. All needles will be retained for 30 minutes.
NAM group
Nine acupoints on non-affected meridians will be used as follows: bilateral Yaoyan (EX-B7) and Pigen (EX-B4) and unilateral Yinbao (LR9), Ququan (LR8), Ligou (LR5), Fuliu (KI7) and Gongsun (SP4) on the affected leg. All acupoints will be treated by needles (0.30 × 40/50 mm) inserted into the skin with manipulations later to reach the “de qi” sensation. Other treatment settings are the same as those for the DAM group.
SA group
We select nine non-acupoints in this group with locations shown in Table 3. They are localized in the middle of the gallbladder meridian and bladder meridian as one selecting method for non-acupoints [20]. Blunt-tipped needles (0.30 × 25 mm) will be inserted only into the pad with no penetration into the skin. No “de qi” sensation is required in this group and other settings will be the same.
Table 3
Location of non-acupoints in SA group
Non-acupoints | location |
NA 1 (bilateral) | In the lumbar region, 2.5 cun beside Dachangshu (BL25), in the middle of gallbladder meridian and bladder meridian. |
NA 2 (bilateral) | In the lumbar region, 2.5 cun beside Guanyuanshu (BL26), in the middle of gallbladder meridian and bladder meridian. |
NA 3 | In the middle of Zhibian (BL54) and Huantiao (GB30) acpoints on the affected leg. |
NA 4 | 10 cun above the popliteal crease, in the middle of gallbladder meridian and bladder meridian on the affected leg. |
NA 5 | 5 cun above the popliteal crease, in the middle of gallbladder meridian and bladder meridian on the affected leg. |
NA 6 | In the middle of Weizhong (BL40) and Yanglingquan (GB34) acupoints on the affected leg. |
NA 7 | In the middle of Chengshan (BL57) and Waiqiu (GB36) acupoints on the affected leg. |
One “cun” is defined as the width of the interphalangeal joint of patient’s thumb. |
Outcomes
The primary outcome is defined as the change of leg pain intensity on VAS from baseline to week 4 measuring pain over the prior 24 hours. The VAS presents as a 0-100 mm ruler with 0 representing no pain and 100 representing unbearable pain. The specific score will be determined by the distance from 0 to the patient’s mark.
Secondary outcomes include VAS for leg pain and back pain at other time points, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) [21], 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) [22], straight leg raise test [23], painDETECT questionnaire [24], global perceived recovery on 7-point Likert self-rating scale [25], the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire [26], blinding assessment and medicine use. The ODI plays a role in giving a subjective percentage score of function level for patients with low back pain through examining perceived disability in 10 activities of daily living. SF-36 is used to assess the quality of life on eight aspects including physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical health problems, personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, general health perceptions as well as a single item that indicates perceived change in health. PainDETECT questionnaire is used to discern the variation of neuropathic pain as one common method. 7-point Likert self-rating scale is used to assess the recovery compared to the onset with options from “completely recovered” to “worse than ever”. The Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire is capable to assess the credibility and expectancy of patients. Maintenance of blinding will be determined by asking patients to report the group which they believe they had been assigned to. Categories and frequency of medicines use during the trial will be recorded in detail. Detailed arrangements of every outcome are shown in Fig. 4.
Adverse events will be recorded, valued, and treated timely. Continuous investigation and reexaminations will be conducted until the end of the study. The data and safety monitor board (DSMB) will judge the relationship between adverse events and acupuncture to determine subsequent participation. The occurrence ratio of adverse events will be calculated at the end of the study.
Data management
Data will be collected clearly and completely on case report forms (CRFs). All original data sources will be preserved including CRFs, informed consents, and inspection results. An independent data manager is in charge of the completed CRFs, he will be asked to input data doubly for proofreading. All data related to the trial will be saved for at least 5 years after publication. Readers will be permitted to access the original data by contacting the corresponding author. Information on patients will remain anonymous including name, age, and telephone number, etc. An independent DSMB is established to ensure the integrity of the research data. The DSMB will review the progress and decide whether a premature closure is needed or not.
Sample size
As a pilot study, we determine to use a convenience sample instead of a sample size calculation. 90 patients will be enrolled in this trial, 30 in each group. The data of this pilot trial will be applied to facilitate the calculation of the sample size for a further RCT.
Statistical analysis
Continuous variables will be described by means and standard deviations or 95% confidence intervals when following a normal distribution. If not, the data will be shown by medians and interquartile ranges. Categorical variables will be described by frequencies and percentages.
All data will be analyzed following the intention-to-treat principle primarily. A per-protocol analysis will be used for primary outcome as sensitivity analysis covering patients who complete at least 10 treatment sessions without obvious violation. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis H test, or chi-square test will be used to compare the equilibrium between three groups at baseline. As for outcomes, one-way repeated measures ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test will be applied for continuous variables and chi-square tests or Fisher’s exact test will be used for categorical variables as appropriate. Data analyses will be performed using IBM SPSS21.0 with the statistical significance of two-tailed P < 0.05 as exploratory.