Impact of acupuncture combined with ganglioside therapy on serum inflammatory cytokine levels in acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation

This study aims to investigate the effect of acupuncture combined with gangliosides on serum inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with non-fracture dislocation-type acute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). A total of 160 patients with non-fracture dislocation-type acute cervical SCI admitted to our orthopedic ward were assigned into 4 groups (n = 40 each): control group (C), ganglioside group (G), acupuncture group (A), and combined treatment group (J). All patients received routine methylprednisolone sodium succinate pulse therapy. Group C underwent standard treatment; Group G received additional ganglioside therapy; Group A received acupuncture; and Group J was treated with both acupuncture and gangliosides. Clinical outcomes were assessed through spinal cord function scores, therapeutic efficacy, American Spinal Injury Association grades, Visual Analogue Scale scores, quality of life, somatosensory evoked potentials, and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8. After treatment, Group J showed significantly higher spinal cord function scores and overall efficacy compared with the other groups (P < .05). The American Spinal Injury Association grade in Group J was markedly improved (P < .05). Visual Analogue Scale scores were lowest in Group J (1.4 ± 0.5, P < .05). Quality of life scores across all domains were significantly higher in Group J (P < .05). The somatosensory evoked potentials inter-peak latency in Group J was also notably shorter than in the other groups (P < .05). Moreover, serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were most significantly reduced in Group J (P < .05). Acupuncture combined with ganglioside therapy significantly decreases serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in patients with non-fracture dislocation-type acute cervical SCI. This combined treatment demonstrates superior clinical efficacy and functional recovery compared to single therapies.