A Review of Recent Clinical Studies of Acupotomy for Tinnitus

Objectives: This study aimed to review and synthesize randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupotomy on tinnitus to clarify its therapeutic potential and provide a foundation for future research.Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in seven databases (KCI, OASIS, RISS, KISS, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CNKI) for studies published between 2016 and August 2025. Eligible studies were RCTs employing acupotomy as an intervention for tinnitus. Study characteristics, treatment protocols, outcome measures, and methodological quality were analyzed. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool.Results: Six RCTs were included, most of which investigated cervicogenic tinnitus (n=4). In all trials, acupotomy was applied as a concomitant intervention. Frequently selected treatment points included tenderness nodules, the inferior nuchal line, and the spinous process of second cervical vertebrae. Intervention groups demonstrated higher effective rates and greater improvements in tinnitus questionnaires compared with control groups. Improvements in blood flow velocity were observed in some studies, although results were inconsistent. The methodological quality of included studies was generally rated as high risk due to insufficient randomization concealment, lack of blinding, and absence of protocol registration.Conclusions: Acupotomy may serve as a promising adjunctive therapy for tinnitus. However, future rigorously designed trials with validated outcome measures and acupotomy as an independent intervention are required to confirm these findings and elucidate its role in tinnitus management.