A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Gao-Feng Liu, Zhen Gao, [...], and Tai-Peng Tan
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(Ref ID): PMC8643238
Chosen Image filename: PMC8643238_Figure_02.jpg
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Title: Summary of Research Paper on "Effects of Warm Needle Acupuncture on Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials"
I. Introduction
The research paper titled "Effects of Warm Needle Acupuncture on Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials" aims to evaluate the efficacy of warm needle acupuncture (WNA) for treating temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).
TMD is a common disease that affects the quality of life of sufferers, causing pain, joint sounds, and mandibular movement disorders. The paper highlights the lack of evidence-based medicine supporting the effectiveness of WNA for TMD treatment. Therefore, the authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to fill this gap.
II. Methodology
The study employed a systematic review and meta-analysis design. The authors searched nine electronic databases, including English and Chinese databases, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on WNA for TMD treatment. The selected RCTs compared WNA with acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacological therapy, or other therapies.
Data analysis was conducted using RevMan software V5.3 and Stata16. The measurement count data utilized the relative risk (RR) as the efficacy statistic, providing point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The authors also assessed the total effective rate and cure rate as outcome indicators.
III. Results
The meta-analysis included 10 studies with a total of 670 patients. The results showed that WNA was superior to treatments such as acupuncture alone, acupuncture therapy combined with TDP, drug therapy, and ultrasonic therapy. WNA demonstrated higher effective rate (RR = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.35; P = 0.003) and cure rate (RR = 1.82; 95% CI, 1.46 to 2.28; P < 0.00001) for TMD treatment.
IV. Discussion
The research findings indicate that WNA is effective for treating TMD, as evidenced by the higher effective and cure rates compared to other treatments. The study addresses the gap in evidence-based medicine for WNA efficacy in TMD treatment.
The implications of these findings are significant for the clinical research and application of WNA for TMD. However, the authors acknowledge the need for further verification through larger sample size and higher-quality RCTs from multicenter prospective studies.
V. Conclusion
In conclusion, the systematic review and meta-analysis provide new evidence for the effectiveness of WNA in treating TMD. The study highlights the superior efficacy of WNA compared to other treatments. However, further research is required to validate these conclusions through rigorous studies with larger sample sizes. The research paper contributes to the field by filling the evidence gap and providing valuable insights into the efficacy of WNA for TMD treatment.
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