Clinical observation of epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis treated with pricking technique of fire needling therapy at chéngqì (承泣 ST1)

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical therapeutic effect on epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis treated with pricking technqiue of fire needling therapy at Chéngqì (承泣 ST1) and acupuncture treatment at conventional acupoints. MethodsFrom September 2018 through to October 2018, 64 cases of epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis were collected from the Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion in Suzhou TCM Hospital. According to random number table, they were divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each one. In the observation group, pricking technique of fire needling therapy was used at ST1, once every two days. In the control group, acupuncture with filiform needle was applied to Jīngmíng (睛明BL1), Tàiyáng (太阳EX-HN5), Tóngzĭliáo (瞳子髎GB1), Sìbái (四白ST2) and Quánliáo (颧髎SI18) on the affected side as well as Hégŭ (合谷LI4) on the contralateral side, once per day. The 10-day treatment was as one 1 course and the consecutive 3 courses of treatment were required in either of the groups. Before and after treatment, Munk grade, clinical effective rate and the number of treatments were observed in the evaluation of therapeutic effect. ResultsAfter treatment, Munk grade was improved in the patients of the two groups (both P < 0.05). The improvement range in the observation group was larger than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The treatment in either group achieved the obviously therapeutic effect on epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis. The effective rate in the observation group was 90.32%, higher than 61.29% in the control group (P < 0.05). The mean number of treatments of the curative case were 5.11 in the observation group and were 13.73 in the control group, indicating the statistical significance in difference (P < 0.05). ConclusionPricking technique of fire needling therapy at ST1 achieves the better effect on epiphora as sequela of peripheral facial paralysis as compared with acupuncture at conventional acupoints.