Effectiveness, Safety, and Cost-Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy for Degenerative Cervical Radiculopathy: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Korean Medicine, Graduate School of Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
- 2Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
- 3KM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
- 4College of Pharmacy, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
- 5Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
Background
Degenerative cervical radiculopathy (CR) causes neck and upper-extremity pain, sensory disturbance, and motor dysfunction resulting from nerve root compression or irritation by disc herniation, foraminal narrowing, or spondylotic changes. Ultrasound-guided acupotomy (UA), a minimally invasive acupuncture-based intervention, permits real-time visualization of target tissues and adjacent neurovascular structures, enabling controlled release of fibrotic or adhesive soft tissues that may contribute to nerve root compression. Evidence on its effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness remains limited.Methods
This two-arm, parallel, single-center randomized controlled trial will enroll 56 patients with clinically and radiologically confirmed degenerative CR, randomized 1:1 to UA or conventional physical therapy (CPT; interferential current therapy and microwave diathermy). Both groups will receive six sessions over 3 weeks, with follow-up at weeks 4, 7, and 11. The primary outcome is the between-group difference in mean change from baseline in visual analog scale scores for cervical and/or upper-extremity pain/discomfort at week 4. Secondary outcomes include painDETECT, Neck Disability Index, EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, Patient Global Impression of Change, clinically important difference, rescue medication use, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, and cervical multifidus stiffness on shear wave elastography (SWE), interpreted as exploratory. Adverse events will be recorded at every visit.Conclusion
This trial will evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of UA versus CPT for degenerative CR. By integrating clinical outcomes, economic evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging-based foraminal stenosis grading, and exploratory SWE assessment, findings may provide comprehensive evidence on the role of UA in CR management.Ethics and dissemination
This protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital. Written informed consent will be obtained from each participant after the study aims, procedures, and potential risks have been explained.Trial registration
Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0011139; registered on 12 November 2025.
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BibTeX
@article{cho2026effectiveness,
title = {{Effectiveness, Safety, and Cost-Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy for Degenerative Cervical Radiculopathy: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.}},
author = {Sooran Cho and Sookwang An and Hyeri Jung and Minhwan Kim and Jihun Kim and Byoung-Kab Kang and Eun-Young Bae and Yoona Oh and Kun Hyung Kim and Gi Young Yang and Eunseok Kim},
journal = {Journal of pain research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2147/jpr.s635656},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903877},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effectiveness, Safety, and Cost-Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy for Degenerative Cervical Radiculopathy: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.
AU - Sooran Cho
AU - Sookwang An
AU - Hyeri Jung
AU - Minhwan Kim
AU - Jihun Kim
AU - Byoung-Kab Kang
AU - Eun-Young Bae
AU - Yoona Oh
AU - Kun Hyung Kim
AU - Gi Young Yang
AU - Eunseok Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Journal of pain research
DO - 10.2147/jpr.s635656
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903877
AB - Background Degenerative cervical radiculopathy (CR) causes neck and upper-extremity pain, sensory disturbance, and motor dysfunction resulting from nerve root compression or irritation by disc herniation, foraminal narrowing, or spondylotic changes. Ultrasound-guided acupotomy (UA), a minimally invasive acupuncture-based intervention, permits real-time visualization of target tissues and adjacent neurovascular structures, enabling controlled release of fibrotic or adhesive soft tissues that may contribute to nerve root compression. Evidence on its effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness remains limited.Methods This two-arm, parallel, single-center randomized controlled trial will enroll 56 patients with clinically and radiologically confirmed degenerative CR, randomized 1:1 to UA or conventional physical therapy (CPT; interferential current therapy and microwave diathermy). Both groups will receive six sessions over 3 weeks, with follow-up at weeks 4, 7, and 11. The primary outcome is the between-group difference in mean change from baseline in visual analog scale scores for cervical and/or upper-extremity pain/discomfort at week 4. Secondary outcomes include painDETECT, Neck Disability Index, EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, Patient Global Impression of Change, clinically important difference, rescue medication use, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, and cervical multifidus stiffness on shear wave elastography (SWE), interpreted as exploratory. Adverse events will be recorded at every visit.Conclusion This trial will evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of UA versus CPT for degenerative CR. By integrating clinical outcomes, economic evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging-based foraminal stenosis grading, and exploratory SWE assessment, findings may provide comprehensive evidence on the role of UA in CR management.Ethics and dissemination This protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital. Written informed consent will be obtained from each participant after the study aims, procedures, and potential risks have been explained.Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0011139; registered on 12 November 2025.
SN - 1178-7090
ER -