The Validation of a New System of Transcription of Acupuncture Points on the Ear: the Auricular Sectogram

Abstract

Introduction A reliable system of transcription of the points mapped on the outer ear is essential for auricular diagnosis. Moreover the correct transcription and recording of these points helps the physician to understand if a patient's condition is going to improve with therapy. Several bi-dimensional graphic systems have been proposed in the past for transcribing the auricular points. Objective To validate a new system of transcription of points: the Auricular Sectogram. Methods After attending a theoretical-practical course of auricular diagnosis and therapy 385 physicians were asked to participate in the following transcription exercise: two sets of points, I and II, were projected onto a screen one after the other. Each set was composed of 3 points located on 3 different parts of the pinna (helix, anthelix and earlobe). The physicians were asked to transcribe the points of sets I and II in random order on the Sectogram or on a map of the auricle without subdivision into sectors. These two modalities were compared for total average number of correct transcriptions as well as for their relative proportions on the different parts of the ear. The same procedure was adopted with the average total number of correctly identified sectors and their proportions. Results The total average number of correctly transcribed points was significantly higher using the Sectogram (p < 0.001) compared to an auricular map without subdivision into sectors. Also the proportions of points correctly transcribed on the different parts of the ear (helix, anthelix and earlobe) were significantly different. The same results were found comparing the total number of correctly identified sectors (p < 0.001) and their proportions on the 3 different parts of the ear. Conclusions The Auricular Sectogram allows practitioners to transcribe more precisely the site of auricular points and areas for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes