Acupoint Application for Constipation in Thoracolumbar Compression Fracture

Thoracolumbar compression fractures (TLFs) are common spinal injuries. Due to prolonged bed rest, pain-induced stress, and other factors, the incidence of constipation in affected patients exceeds 70%, which hinders rehabilitation. This study describes the operational procedures of acupoint application for the treatment of such constipation. To do this, acupoints were selected, including Tianshu (ST25), Daheng (SP15), Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Zhigou (TE6), Chinese medicinal herbs such as Rheum officinale were ground into a paste for application, with a frequency of 1x a day, 6 h per session, and 2 weeks as one treatment course. Efficacy and safety were evaluated using the time interval to the first defecation after treatment, Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptom, Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life, Visual Analog Scale scores, and adverse reactions. Forty-two patients with TLFs complicated by constipation were enrolled and randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. After 2 weeks, constipation was improved in both groups, with all efficacy indicators of the experimental group being superior to those of the control group (p <0.05). No severe adverse reactions were observed in either group. The study indicates that acupoint application can effectively improve constipation in patients with high safety, providing a non-invasive intervention protocol. In the future, it is planned to expand the sample size to conduct multi-center studies, optimize the medicinal formula and treatment course, and explore the mechanism of action to support clinical promotion.