Clinical question
Compared with sham acupuncture or other active therapies, how effective is acupuncture for neuropathic pain in adults?
Bottom line
Due to the limited data available, there was insufficient evidence to support or refute the use of acupuncture for neuropathic pain in general, or for any specific neuropathic pain condition, when compared with sham acupuncture or other active therapies (mecobalamin, nimodipine, inositol and Xiaoke bitong capsules). Evidence on the side effects of acupuncture was lacking.
Caveat
Overall, the quality of the evidence was very low, downgraded for study limitations (high risk of performance, detection and attrition bias, and high risk of bias confounded by small study size) or imprecision.
Context
Neuropathic pain may be caused by nerve damage and is often followed by changes to the CNS. It affects 7–10 percent of the general population. Uncertainty remains regarding the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatments for neuropathic pain, despite several clinical trials being undertaken.
Cochrane Systematic Review
Ju ZW et al. Acupuncture for neuropathic pain in adults. Cochrane Reviews, 2017, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD012057.DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD012057. pub2. This review contains 6 studies involving 462 participants.
Cochrane Systematic Reviews for primary care practitioners – developed by the Cochrane Primary Care Field, New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre at the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland and funded by the Ministry of Health. Brian McAvoy is an honorary/adjunct professor of general practice at the Universities of Auckland, Melbourne, Monash and Queensland. New Zealanders can access the Cochrane Library free via nz.cochrane.org
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