“A point, V point, U point” as the acupotomy approach to treat cervical spondylosis: A technical note

Abstract

This technical note describes a clinically-derived needle-knife technique for cervical spondylosis treatment, developed through our experience with 118 confirmed cases of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). The approach combines surgical decompression principles with the minimally invasive advantages of acupotomy by targeting three anatomical entry points: posterior (A point), posterolateral (V point), and lateral (U point). These access points allow for selective release of six clinically-identified cervical physiological narrowings, thereby relieving nerve root and spinal cord compression from surrounding tissues. In our case series, this standardized approach demonstrated an 86.8% success rate with a 2.2% incidence of minor transient complications. The technique offers a potentially valuable alternative to conventional surgical interventions for specific DCM subtypes, particularly in cases where full surgical decompression may not be immediately warranted. However, further controlled studies are needed to establish comparative efficacy and long-term outcomes.