Ankylosing Spondylitis Clinical Trials

Experimental: Treatment Group

All subjects were enrolled at week 0 and, after completing baseline assessments, received acupotomy treatment once per week for a total of four sessions over the initial three-week period. The core intervention for the treatment group (acupotomy group) involved ultrasound-guided precise release: first, the target vertebra with the most significant lesions was identified through palpation and ultrasound imaging, after which the acupotomy was accurately guided in real-time via ultrasound to the interspinous points (located at the interspinous ligaments) and paraspinal points (located at the intertransverse ligaments) of the target vertebra and adjacent vertebrae for release.

Sham_comparator: Control Group

The control group (sham acupotomy group) strictly replicated all preliminary procedures of the treatment group, including exploration, ultrasound localization, and local anesthesia. However, the acupotomy needle only pierced the epidermis without performing any release operations in the deeper tissues, thereby maintaining blinding and assessing the specific effect of the acupotomy therapy.