Abstract
Background Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a common complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which seriously affects patients' survival and recovery. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a nonpharmacological therapy for epilepsy. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) is the only peripheral branch and has antiepileptic effects, but the efficacy of ABVN stimulation as treatment of late PTE is uncertain. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical efficacy of ABVN stimulation by auricular electroacupuncture for the treatment of late PTE, and investigated the influence of sodium valproate and edaravone on the anti-PTE effects of auricular electroacupuncture. Method Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship of age, cause of PTE, use of auricular electroacupuncture, sodium valproate, and edaravone with the incidence of late PTE. To compare the curative effects of auricular electroacupuncture, 89 cases of late PTE were divided into an auricular electroacupuncture and a control group according to whether they were treated with auricular electroacupuncture. We further analyzed the influence of sodium valproate and edaravone on the effects of the treatment of PTE with auricular electroacupuncture. Results Among age, cause, use of auricular electroacupuncture, sodium valproate, and edaravone, the use of auricular electroacupuncture was associated with significantly reduced incidence of late PTE (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, there were more seizure-free cases in the auricular electroacupuncture group (P < 0.01). The total effective rate of the auricular electroacupuncture group was 90%. The seizure-free rate among patients treated with auricular electroacupuncture was significantly reduced, regardless of the use of sodium valproate or edaravone (P < 0.05). Conclusion Auricular electroacupuncture can reduce the incidence of late PTE and is a safe and economical therapy for late PTE.
Highlights
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to brain injury caused by an external mechanical force such as a blow to the head, concussive forces, acceleration–deceleration forces, a blast injury, or a projectile missile, such as a bullet [1]
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical efficacy of auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) via auricular electroacupuncture for the treatment of Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) and evaluated the influence of sodium valproate and edaravone on the anti-PTE effects of this treatment
In this retrospective study of 89 cases, univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the use of auricular electroacupuncture, sodium valproate, and edaravone and a reduced incidence of late PTE
Summary
Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a common complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which seriously affects patients’ survival and recovery. E auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) is the only peripheral branch and has antiepileptic effects, but the efficacy of ABVN stimulation as treatment of late PTE is uncertain. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical efficacy of ABVN stimulation by auricular electroacupuncture for the treatment of late PTE, and investigated the influence of sodium valproate and edaravone on the anti-PTE effects of auricular electroacupuncture. We further analyzed the influence of sodium valproate and edaravone on the effects of the treatment of PTE with auricular electroacupuncture. Cause, use of auricular electroacupuncture, sodium valproate, and edaravone, the use of auricular electroacupuncture was associated with significantly reduced incidence of late PTE (P < 0.05). E seizure-free rate among patients treated with auricular electroacupuncture was significantly reduced, regardless of the use of sodium valproate or edaravone (P < 0.05).
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