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1230 - Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Management of Spinal Cord Injury-Related Complications: A Comprehensive Review

Thursday, February 27, 2025

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM MST

Presenting Author(s)

Matthew J. Lee, BA

Medical Student
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Nutley, New Jersey, United States

Co-Author(s)

MD

Margaret Dreker, MPA, MLS

Health Sciences Librarian
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Nutley, New Jersey, United States
KD

Kyle Downey, MLIS

Medical Librarian
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Nutley, New Jersey, United States
CD

Christopher Duffy, MLIS, AHIP

Associate Dean, VP Medical Library Services
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Nutley, New Jersey, United States

Objectives: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that affects approximately 17,000 individuals annually in the United States, often leading to complications such as neuropathic pain, muscle spasticity, and urinary retention, which significantly impair quality of life and functional independence. Acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture, has gained attention for its potential in managing these complications. The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in managing SCI-related complications and clarify its potential role in enhancing patient outcomes.

Design: A comprehensive scoping review was conducted based on studies retrieved from databases including PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus, as well as grey literature sources. Search terms included combinations of "spinal cord injury," "acupuncture," "pain management," and other related terms. The inclusion criteria focused on studies published in English, primarily randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews assessing the effect of acupuncture on SCI-related complications. Non-English publications, animal studies, and studies lacking acupuncture interventions were excluded.

Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising twelve RCTs and five systematic reviews. Systematic reviews indicated that acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture, showed promise in improving functional recovery, bladder dysfunction, and pain management in SCI patients, although the quality of these reviews varied. RCTs supported the use of acupuncture in alleviating neuropathic pain, muscle spasticity, and urinary retention. Electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion or botulinum toxin A demonstrated significant improvements in bladder function and spasticity. Despite these positive findings, some RCTs reported inconsistent results, particularly regarding pain outcomes.

Conclusions: Acupuncture appears to be a promising complementary therapy for managing SCI-related complications, with electroacupuncture showing the most potential. However, the variability in study design and methodology necessitates further high-quality, large-scale trials to establish standardized treatment protocols. Integrating acupuncture into SCI care may enhance patient outcomes, but more robust evidence is needed to validate its therapeutic efficacy.