Efficacy of Fu's subcutaneous needling in the treatment of neck-type cervical spondylosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

As a minimally invasive technique, Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) has been widely adopted in Chinese clinical practice for managing neck-type cervical spondylosis (CS). However, current evidence regarding its therapeutic efficacy remains inconclusive due to methodological limitations in existing studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis therefore sought to quantitatively synthesize available randomized controlled trials to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of FSN for this prevalent musculoskeletal disorder.

METHODS

This study protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD420251036627). The databases searched include PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform (Wanfang), VIP Database (VIP), and China Biology Medicine disc (CBM). A comprehensive search was conducted across the 8 electronic databases from their inception through April 18, 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials comparing FSN with non-FSN therapies for neck-type CS.

RESULTS

This study included 10 clinical studies with a total of 696 patients suffering from neck-type CS. The results of the meta - analysis revealed that the experimental group had significant advantages over the control group in terms of clinical efficacy. Specifically, for the total effective rate (odds ratio = 5.45, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = [2.75, 10.81], Z = 4.85, P  < .00001), cure rate (odds ratio = 2.25, 95% CI = [1.51, 3.34], Z = 4.01, P < .00001), visual analogue scale score (VAS, mean difference = -1.21, 95% CI = [-1.30, -1.12], Z = 25.10, P < .00001), and Neck Disability Index score (NDI, mean difference = -1.33, 95% CI = [-1.92, -0.75], Z = 4.48, P < .00001), the experimental group outperformed the control group.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that FSN is a safe and effective strategy for managing neck-type CS. Therefore, it can be considered as a common clinical treatment modality for neck-type CS.