Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the research on acupuncture treatment for lumbar disc herniation, most acupuncture treatments are performed under CT guidance or without guidance. The precise control of the target site and the effective acupuncture location are not clear. 
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effects of acupuncture at Jiaji points under ultrasonic guidance in treating lumbar disc herniation.
METHODS: A total of 70 cases of lumbar disc herniation, 36 males and 34 females aged 18-65 years old, were selected from Chinese PLA General Hospital and Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. They were divided into trial group and control group by random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. The control group received acupuncture at Jiaji points. The trial group received acupuncture at Jiaji points under ultrasonic guidance. The patients were treated once on the day of treatment and 4, 7 days after treatment. Visual analog scale score, Oswestry disability index, Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, and MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) were evaluated before and after treatment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with before treatment, the visual analog scale scores of both groups were decreased after treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the visual analog scale scores of the trial group were decreased on days 2, 3, 6, 7 of treatment and 1, 2 weeks after the end of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Compared with before treatment, Oswestry disability index after treatment was decreased in both groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, Oswestry disability index of the trial group was decreased from days 1 to 7 of treatment and 1, 2 weeks after treatment (P < 0.01). (3) Compared with before treatment, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores of both groups were increased after treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores of the trial group were increased on days 3, 7 of treatment and 1, 2 weeks after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (4) Compared with before treatment, SF-36 scores in both groups were increased after treatment (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in SF-36 scores between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). (5) These results show that acupuncture at Jiaji points has curative effect on lumbar disc herniation, and ultrasonic guidance could improve the clinical curative effect of acupuncture at Jiaji points for lumbar disc herniation.  

Key words: lumbar disc herniation, ultrasonic guidance, acupuncture, Jiaji points, clinical observation, acupuncture-moxibustion treatment