Objective To analyze the characteristics of acupoint catgut embedding methods

tools

catgut types

and the treatment cycles in the clinical research in recent ten years both at home and abroad

so as to summarize its regularities and to provide technical references for further studies. Methods Articles about clinical researches on catgut embedding therapy published in recent ten years(from January 1

2010 to December 31

2020) were retrieved from the databases of CNKI

Wanfang

VIP

and PubMed by using key words of “acupoint embedding” “acupoint catgut embedding” and “catgut implantation at acupoint”. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria

a new database was established for analyzing the data mentioned above. Results 1) A total of 1 196 articles were collected

including 15 English articles and 1 181 Chinese articles

presenting a fluctuating increasing trend in recent ten years. 2) The commonly used acupoint embedding methods included disposable catgut embedment needle method(399 times

38.89%) and disposable syringe needle catgut embedding method(347 times

33.82%)

for which two or multiple methods were mentioned in the same one article. 3) The most frequently used top two tools for catgut embedding were the dispo-sable catgut embedment needle(463 times

43.03%) and disposable syringe needle(406 times

37.73%)

with a significant increase in the application of disposable syringe needle. The most commonly used size of tools included No. 7(283 times

39.86%)

No. 9(196 times

27.61%) and No. 8(109 times

15.35%). 4) The most frequently implanted surgical suture was still the common catgut(671 times

58.15%) despite of a reduction in clinical application year by year

and the types of the implanted suture materials were gradually enriched since 2018

such as the absorbable surgical suture

polyethylprolactide(PGLA)

collagen protein thread

polydioxanone(PPDO)

etc. The commonly used implanted catgut size was 3-0(227 times

30.15%)

2-0(176 times

23.37%)

4-0(131 times

17.40%)

0(103 times

13.68%)

with the commonly used catgut length being 1 cm(332 times

35.55%)

1.5 cm(103 times

11.03%)

1-2 cm(92 times

9.85%) and 2 cm(92 times

9.85%). 5) The intervals of the catgut implantation were 7 days(313 times

28.95%)

14 days(262 times

24.24%)

10 days(174 times

16.10%)

and 15 days(162 times

14.99%). Conclusion In recent ten years

clinical research on acupoint catgut embedding is growing rapidly

and the embedding methods

tools

implanted sutures

and embedding intervals are various

which may provide certain technical references for the future researches and suggest an urgent need of formulation of the standardized and unified standards in this field.