OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of conservative treatment for treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy by Cochrane evaluation systems. DATA SOURCE: CBM (from January 1978 to October 2008), CNKI (from January 1978 to October 2008) and VIP (from January 1989 to October 2008) databases were retrieved by computer and partial documents were searched by hands. DATA SELECTION: Randomized controlled trial was adopted in course of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and its quality was assessed. Data source was randomized and semi-randomized controlled. Some evaluations such as random method-selection bias, allocation concealment-selection bias, blind method-performance bias and measurement bias, exclusion, lose to follow-up, withdraw-attrition bias were chosen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Circled digit oneAbdominal acupuncture needles were superior to the conventional method's efficiency. Circled digit two Electro-acupuncture plus cupping with barbed floc were superior to the conventional method's efficiency. Circled digit threeAbdominal acupuncture were superior to traction's efficiency. Circled digit fourCervical traction, electro-acupuncture combined with point injection and massage were superior to traction's efficiency. Circled digit fiveTraction, electro-acupuncture, massage, TDP-guided were superior to traction, physiotherapy, TDP combined with exercise therapy's efficiency. Circled digit sixVinegar iontophoresis and electro-acupuncture were superior to simple electro-acupuncture's efficiency. Circled digit sevenLong's approach acupuncture was superior to simple acupuncture's efficiency. Circled digit eight Adverse reaction. RESULTS: A total of 1,416 subjects were selected from 7 randomized controlled trials. All the studies have selection bias, measurement bias, loss of the high probability of bias, the quality and grade of "C" grade. And only one study proved that the efficiency of the experimental group was better than that of the control group. Study 1 showed that there was insufficient evidence suggested that acupuncture treatment of abdominal cervical spondylotic radiculopathy was efficient than conventional acupuncture. Study 2 showed that there was insufficient evidence suggested that electro-acupuncture plus cupping therapy with barbed floc was efficient than conventional acupuncture to cure cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Study 3 showed that there was insufficient evidence suggested that acupuncture treatment of abdominal cervical spondylotic radiculopathy was efficient than traction. Study 4 showed that the cervical traction, electro-acupuncture combined with acupoint-injection treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy was efficient than traction combined massage therapy. Study 5 showed that there was insufficient evidence suggested that traction, electro-acupuncture, massage, TDP-guided therapy was efficient than traction, physical therapy, TDP combined with exercise therapy. Study 6 showed that there was insufficient evidence suggested that electro-acupuncture combined with vinegar iontophoresis treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy was better than the simple electro-acupuncture therapy. Study 7 showed that there was insufficient evidence suggested that the acupuncture therapy using Long's approach was better than simple acupuncture. No adverse reactions appeared to terminate the test in 7 studies. CONCLUSION: The above seven studies mainly present with low quality, absence of a unified curative method, small samples, difference of follow-up time, Judgment standard and measurement standard. So more samples, multicenter and more regular randomized controlled trial should be performed.

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