Objective  To compare the early efficacy and safety of Huoluo Xiaotong capsules and Jingtong granules in treating cervical spondylosis radiculopathy (CSR).

Methods  A real-world study was conducted among CSR patients who visited three tertiary-grade-A hospitals in Changsha between January 2024 and February 2025. Patients were divided into a control group (Jingtong granules, 4 g, po, tid) and an observation group (Huoluo Xiaotong capsules, 1.4 g, po, tid); both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Baseline characteristics were balanced with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, overall response rates, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) symptom scores were compared at baseline, 1 week, and 2 week.

Results  A total of 120 patients were ultimately included, with 30 in the control group and 90 in the observation group. After IPTW adjustment, at 1 week of treatment, the clinical efficacy rate of observation group (98.85%) were significantly exceeded that of control group (80.14%) (P<0.001); at 2 weeks, the clinical efficacy rate of the two groups were both 100.00%. NRS and TCM syndrome scores showed no intergroup differences at baseline or 1 week (P>0.05), at 2 weeks, the observation group demonstrated significantly lower NRS and TCM syndrome scores versus controls (P<0.001). No adverse reactions occurred in either group.

Conclusion  Huoluo Xiaotong capsules demonstrate favorable short-term efficacy and safety in CSR, significantly alleviating pain and improving TCM symptoms within 2 weeks. High-quality randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings.

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