Clinical study of Qiu’s ear acupuncture clips in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders

Abstract

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Qiu′s ear acupuncture clips in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Methods 90 patients admitted tothe acupuncture department and stomatology clinic of Yangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from August 2012 to August 2017 were selected, and were divided into the ear acupuncture clip group and the body acupuncture group according to the random digital table method, 30 cases in each group.The ear acupuncture clip group was treated with the Qiu′s ear acupuncture clips in the relevant auricular points; the body acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture points such as point SI19(Tinggong) and point ST7(Xiaguan); the two groups of patients were treated for 10 days.VAS and ROM scores were compared between the two groups by chi-square tests, to observe the improvement of pain and mouth opening degree after treatment. Results (1) After 10 days of treatment, the VAS scores of the ear acupuncture clip group were mainly concentrated in 0~1 points, accounting for 83.3%(25/30), and other scores were as follows: Participants with≥7 points, accounted for 3.3%(1/30), those with 3~7 accounted for 6.7% (2/30), and those with 1-3 points accounted for 6.7% (2/30). Those with VAS scores≥7 in the body acupuncture group accounted for 13.3% (4/30), and those with scores of 3~7 accounted for 16.7%(5/30), 1~3 points accounted for 10.0% (3/30), 0~1 points accounted for 60.0% (18/30). The participants with VAS scores of 0~1 in the ear acupuncture clip group were more than those in the body acupuncture group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=2.944, P<0.05). (2) After 10 days of treatment, the ROM of the ear acupuncture clip group was mainly concentrated in 3.4~3.9 cm, accounting for 83.4% (25/30), with that ≤3.0 cm accounting for 13.3% (4/30)and that≤2.0 cm for 3.3% (1/30); for the body acupuncture group, ROM with 3.4~3.9 cm accounted for 60.0% (18/30), that ≤3.0 cm accounted for 26.7% (8/30), and that ≤2.0 cm accounted for 13.3% (4/30). Participants with ROM of 3.4 ~ 3.9 cm in the ear acupuncture clip group were more than those in the body acupuncture group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=2.944, P<0.05). (3) After 10 days of treatment, the cure rate was 33.33% (10/30) and 16.67% (5/30), respectively, of which that in the ear acupuncture clip group was higher, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2= 2.844, P<0.05). The total effective rate after treatment for 10 days in the ear acupuncture group and the body acupuncture group was 93.33%(28/30) and 86.67%(26/30), respectively, of which that in the ear acupuncture clip group was higher, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.444, P<0.05). Conclusion Qiu′s ear acupuncture clips for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders, with immediate analgesia and improved mouth opening degree, has the advantages of remarkable curative effect, no trauma, high safety, simple and easy practice, and is especially suitable for patients with fear of needle. Key words: Acupuncture, ear; Acupuncture therapy; Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome