Effects of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation on Motor Recovery and Secondary Complications in Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Clinical Study

Abstract

Background

Acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) is associated with high disability and poor neurological recovery. Electroacupuncture has shown potential benefits in neurorehabilitation.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of integrated rehabilitation centered on electroacupuncture for ASCI.

Methods

This retrospective observational study enrolled 130 patients with ASCI admitted between January 2022 and December 2024. After exclusions, 127 patients were eligible: 62 received Western medicine rehabilitation alone, and 65 received combined Western rehabilitation plus electroacupuncture. Following propensity score matching, 56 patients remained in each group. Primary outcomes included the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score, incidence of secondary complications, and serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100β levels. Secondary outcomes included ASIA sensory score, Lovett muscle strength grading, modified Barthel index (MBI), spinal cord independence measure (SCIM), motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) amplitude, and adverse events.

Results

Baseline characteristics were comparable after matching. At 3 months, the combined group showed significantly higher ASIA motor and sensory scores, MBI, SCIM, MEP and SEP amplitudes, and improved muscle strength (all P < 0.05). Serum NSE and S100β levels were significantly lower (both P < 0.001). The incidence of secondary complications, including pressure injury, pulmonary and urinary infections, and muscle spasm, was reduced (all P < 0.05). Adverse event rates were similar between groups, and all events resolved without interrupting treatment.

Conclusion

Electroacupuncture-based integrated rehabilitation provides superior neurological recovery and comparable safety versus Western rehabilitation alone in ASCI.

Keywords

acute spinal cord injury integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine rehabilitation electroacupuncture motor function secondary complications

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