Effects Of Scalp Acupunctures On Patients With Cognitive Impairments After Traumatic Brain Injury

ObjectiveTo evaluate outcomes of MoCA（Montreal Cognitive Assessment,MoCA）scales from patients with cognitive impairments after traumatic brain injury treated by scalp acupuncture.And neuro-electrophysiological changes were assessed by incubation period andthe wave’s amplitude of P300.MethodsForty-two patients were selected from July2011to February2013in the department of physiotherapy rehabilitation at WuhanGeneral Hospital of Guangzhou Military.All patients randomized into two groups:control group and experimental group.Patientsof experimental group were treated with scalp acupuncture、routine cognitive therapy and drugs,and patients of control’s weregiven drugs and routine cognitive therapy only.MoCA scales andP300were examed in all patients pre-treatment,1month and3months post treatment.ResultsScores of MoCA、incubation period and wave amplitude of P300from both groups improved1month and3months after giventreatments, the difference had statistical significance(P<0.05).Compared to control group,MoCA’s result of experimental groupwas higher,although there were no statistical difference betweenthese two groups after1month post treatment(P>0.05);At the endof3months,MoCA’s scores of experimental group were higher thancontrol’s significantly(P<0.05).Incubation period of experimental group were shorter than control’s after1month post-treatment,there existed statistical difference in our study（P<0.05）;this result persisted till3months later.Not only incubation period,the great difference existed inwave amplitude of P300between two groups;1month and3monthsafter therapy,wave amplitude of experimental group was higher than control’s,the results had statistical significance(P<0.05).The effective rate of experimental group is91.3%,which issignificantly higher than control group57.9%,and there was a significant difference comparing both group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Scalp acupuncture could improve outcomes of cognitive impairments after traumatic injury significantly and safely.Comparedto MoCA scales, P300was a tool used to evaluate cognitive level more objectively and sensitively.