Clinical Observation Of Therapeutic Efficacy Of Plum-blossom Needle Plus Electro-acupuncture Therapy In Treatment Of Facial Neuritis

Object iveFacial neuritis is commonly seen in clinic, marked with the palsy of the affected facial histrionic muscles, which as a result seriously affects the appearance and the psychological health. Clinically, the duration of facial neuritis could be classified into three phases, namely, acute phase, recovery phase and sequela phase. Among the three, the recovery phase (between 2 weeks after the occurrence of disease to half a year) is a significant period, during which it could improve the rehabilitation and reduce the sequela. In the present study, the randomized control method was adopted. By observing the therapeutic efficacy of electro-acupuncture plus plum-blossom needle in the treatment of facial neuritis and testing whether the integration of both the two therapies could positively promote the progress of rehabilitation, it could accelerate the rehabilitation of the situation.Methods60 cases of facial neuritis which were accordance with the conclusive criteria were enrolled and randomized into electro-acupuncture plus plum-blossom group (treatment group) and elctro-acupuncture group (control group), with 30 cases in each group. With the modified Portmann scoring criteria, the scores of the therapeutic efficacy between the two groups were evaluated. With the statistical software SPSS 17.0, the data of all cases were statistically analyzed and the therapeutic efficacy between the two groups were assessed and compared.Treatment methods:Acupoint selection:mainly with the local acupoints around the face and the acupoints on the stomach meridian of foot-Yangming, namely, Yangbai (GB14), Sibai(ST2), Quanliao(SI18), Jiache(ST6), Dicang(ST4), Yifeng(SJ17), Hegu(LI4) and Zusanli(ST36). For the wind-cold syndrome, Fengchi (GB20) was added; for the wind-heat syndrome, Quchi(LI11) was added; for the difficulty of raising eyebrow, Cuanzhu(BL2) was added; for the shallow nasolabial groove, Yingxiang(LI20) was added; for the distortion of the philtrum, Chengjiang(RN24) was added. In the treatment group, after the arrival of deqi of acupuncture, the apparatus was connected with sparse-dense wave for 30 minutes, with the patient's tolerance. After the withdrawal of the needles, ask the patients to lie. After the routine disinfection around the acupoints, the plum-blossom needle was applied to tap the acupoints mentioned above. With the wrist, the needle tips were vertically tapped onto the skin and raised immediately and repeated, with the local skin red without hemorrhage, with the patient's tolerance. In the control group, the simple electro-acupuncture was applied, without plum-blossom needle, with the same manipulation as mentioned in the treatment group. The treatment was taken once a day, with 10 days being a therapeutic session. After 2 therapeutic sessions the scores of the therapeutic efficacy between the two groups were evaluated.Treatment interval 2 days.ResultsAfter the treatments, with the comparison of the scores, in the treatment group, the cured rate was 36.67%, the remarkably effective rate was 46.67% and the effective rate was 13.33%, with the total effective rate as 96.67%. In the control group, the cured rate was 16.67%, the remarkably effective rate was 36.67% and the effective rate was 33.33%, with the total effective rate as 86.67%. With the Ridit analysis, there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), indicating that the therapeutic efficacy in the treatment group was better than that in the control group.â‘ There was no significant difference of the ages, sexes, illness duration, the scores before treatments, etc, between the two groups, indicating comparability.â‘¡There were remarkable therapeutic effects in the two groups, and the clinical symptoms and signs were improved. The longer the treatment duration, the better therapeutic effects were.â‘¢After the treatments, in the treatment group, there were more apparent improvement of the items of raising forehead wrinkles, filling mouth with air and showing teeth, with the obvious advantage in the improvement of the appearance compared with that in the control group, which indicated that it had better advantages of improving the appearance and alleviating the psychological burden of the patients.ConclusionThe present study indicated that the plum-blossom needle plus electro-acupuncture therapy has much advantage compared with the simple electro-acupuncture therapy in the treatment of facial neuritis. By tapping the acupoints and meridians on the face, the plum-blossom needling treatment could regulate the functions of zang-fu organs, soothe the qi and blood and harmonize yin and yang, which could guide the pathogens out without hurting the healthy qi and promote the recovery of the facial neuritis. With the advantages such as simple manipulation, easily acceptable among the patients, remarkable therapeutic efficacy, etc, the plum-blossom needling treatment is worthy being popularized in clinic in the longer terms to help recovery.