Background Persistent pain following back surgery called failed back surgery syndrome remains a major treatment challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture on relieving back pain in FBSS patients. Methods/design This is a randomized, single-blind, single-site, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 144 eligible FBSS patients will be randomly assigned to the electroacupuncture, manual acupuncture, or sham acupuncture group in a 1:1:1 ratio. Each group will receive 2 treatment sessions per week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome will be low back pain intensity based on the 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS). The secondary outcomes include Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and analgesic consumption. All clinical outcomes will be collected at baseline, during the treatment phase (at 8 and 12 weeks), and at the 16-, 24- and 36-week follow-ups. All data will be analyzed based on the intention-to-treat principle and adverse events will be assessed during the trial. Discussion This pilot randomized controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of electroacupuncture for treating failed back surgery syndrome. The outcomes will determine whether electroacupuncture is efficacious in relieving low back pain as well as improving the quality of life in failed back surgery syndrome patients. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000040144. Registered on 22 November 2020

Objective: To analyze and verify the main drug components and targets of "Fuzi-Guizhi" in the treatment of osteoarthritis by using the network pharmacology platform. Methods: The integrated pharmacology of "Fuzi-Guizhi" was analyzed by using the platform of integrated pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine, to explore its mechanism in the treatment of osteoarthritis. By establishing an arthritis model in vitro,the pharmacological effect of "aconite-cassia twigs" on articular cartilage was evaluated and conducted for molecular docking. Results: 28 candidate active components, 37 compound targets, and 583 osteoarthritis related potential targets were screened, and 10 key target processes were screened in the protein interaction network model. Enrichment analysis showed that the 10 core targets involved 958 GO biologic function items and 76 KEGG signal pathways, which were mainly related to apoptosis and mitochondrial functional metabolism. And "Fuzi-Guizhi" drug-containing serum inhibited the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA and protein in chondrocytes and promoted the synthesis of ATP. Conclusion: Our research is preliminary that the mechanism of action of "Fuzi-Guizhi" may inhibit chondrocyte degeneration by resisting mitochondrial apoptosis, and further experimental research is required to determine.