[Needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm: research progress].

The articles regarding needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm published before September 30, 2019 were searched from SinoMed, Wanfang, CNKI, VIP and PubMed database, and were analyzed and summarized from treatment methods, acupoint selection, stage differentiation and action mechanism. As a result, 45 Chinese articles were obtained. The needle-embedding treatment was divided into intradermal needling and acupoint thread-embedding; the top five acupoints were Sibai (ST 2), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and spasm trigger points. The basic research of needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm is weak, and the literature regarding stage differentiation is insufficient, which are in need of further study.

Needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm: research progress / 中国针灸

The articles regarding needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm published before September 30, 2019 were searched from SinoMed, Wanfang, CNKI, VIP and PubMed database, and were analyzed and summarized from treatment methods, acupoint selection, stage differentiation and action mechanism. As a result, 45 Chinese articles were obtained. The needle-embedding treatment was divided into intradermal needling and acupoint thread-embedding; the top five acupoints were Sibai (ST 2), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and spasm trigger points. The basic research of needle-embedding treatment for hemifacial spasm is weak, and the literature regarding stage differentiation is insufficient, which are in need of further study.

Efficacy of fire needle on patients of facial spasm: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Facial spasm causes a lot of troubles to patients daily life and seriously affects their mental and physical health. Relevant studies have shown that fire needle therapy has certain benefits for facial spasm, is an integral part of acupuncture therapy. However, there is no unanimous conclusion. The main purpose of our study is to measure whether fire needle therapy is effective for facial spasm. METHODS: The following electronic databases will be searched for the collection of fire-needle related randomized controlled trials (RCTS) for facial spasm, including 4 English databases (Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Pubmed) and 3 Chinese databases (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], Wanfang data, Chinese VIP Information). The cure rate and total effective rate are the main outcomes, while the intensity, frequency, recurrence rate and adverse events are the secondary outcomes. We will use Endnote software X9 for study selection, Review Manager software 5.4 and STATA 13.0 software for analysis and synthesis. RESULTS: We will evaluate the efficacy of fire needles in the treatment of facial spasm in combination with current studies. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this study will provide evidence for the efficacy of fire needle in the treatment of facial spasm. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202080036.

Acupuncture therapy for patients with hemifacial spasm: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) brings a lot of trouble to patients' daily life, having a severe influence on the psychological and physical wellbeing of patients. Relevant researches suggested that acupuncture therapy has potential benefits for HFS. However, there is no consistent conclusion. The purpose of our study is to assess whether acupuncture therapy is effective and safe for HFS. METHODS: To collect relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the following electronic databases will be searched: Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, Allied and Alternative Medieine, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, and Chinese Scientific Journals Database. We will take the cure rate and the total effective rate as the primary outcomes, and change in intensity after treatment, change in frequency after treatment, the recurrence rate, and adverse events as secondary outcomes. Endnote software 9.1 will be used for study selection, Review Manager software 5.3, and STATA 13.0 software will be used for analysis and synthesis. RESULTS: Current relevant studies will be synthesized to assess whether acupuncture therapy is effective and safe for HFS. CONCLUSION: Our research will provide evidence of acupuncture therapy for HFS. REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42019142473.

[Clinical observation of fire needle for facial spasm].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects between fire needle combined with acupuncture and simple acupuncture for facial spasm. METHODS: Sixty patients with facial spasm were randomly divided into a fire needle group and an acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. In the two groups, acupuncture was used at Fengchi (GB 20), Baihui(GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Zusanli(ST 36) and Yanglingquan(GB 34). The needles were retained for 30 min. In the fire needle group, ashi points in the spasm areas were pricked by fire needles without retaining. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was retained at ashi points. In the first two weeks,the treatment was given once a day, totally 10 times, and there were two days to have a rest after 5-day treatment. But patients were treated once every other day, three times a week, and totally 20 times from the third week. Fire needle and acupuncture were applied at ashi points until spasm was relieved. The facial spasm degree and frequency were observed after the 15th treatment and the 30th treatment,and the clinical effects were assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment the facial spasm degree and frequency were relieved than those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05). Ones in the fire needle group were declined more apparently than those in the acupuncture group (both P < 0.05). After the 15th treatment and the 30th treatment,the cured rates and the total effective rates in the fire needle group were better than those in the acupuncture group [after the 15th treatment: 20.0% (6/30) vs. 10.0% (3/30), 80.0% (24/30) vs. 63.3% (19/30), both P < 0.05; after the 30th treatment: 33.3% (10/30) vs. 20.0% (6/30), 93.3% (28/30) vs. 80.0% (24/30), both P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of fire needle is superior to that of simple acupuncture for facial spasm.

Complementary therapies in hemifacial spasm and comparison with other movement disorders.

OBJECTIVES: We determined the prevalence, range and factors influencing the use of complementary therapy among hemifacial spasm patients and compared the patterns of use of complementary therapies across different movement disorders in a systematic pooled analysis of published literature. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered to 96 hemifacial spasm patients evaluating frequency of complementary therapy use, and factors influencing patients' decision to seek these therapies. We also performed a PubMed search of epidemiology studies on use of complementary therapies in movement disorders. RESULTS: Fifty-one per cent of patients had tried complementary therapies, of which 47% reported some perceived benefit and 4.1% informed their doctor. Acupuncture (71.4%) and facial massage (17.6%) were most commonly used. Complementary therapy use was associated with greater HFS severity. The mean cost of treatment was about $78 per month. We identified eight articles on use of complementary therapies in movement disorders; Parkinson's disease (5), Tourette syndrome (2) and dystonia (1). Twenty-five to 88% of patient had tried complementary therapies, of which 32-70% reported some benefit. Trials of acupuncture (2-63%) and massage (7-38%) were reported across the spectrum of movement disorders studied. Mean cost of complementary therapies varied from 43 to 102 USD per month. CONCLUSION: Complementary therapies are used by over 50% of HFS patients, and the use is correlated with severity of disease. Despite differences in race, culture and population demographics, acupuncture and massage are used by patients across the spectrum of movement disorders.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of fire needle therapy on facial spasm].

OBJECTIVE: To compare therapeutic effects of fire needle therapy and filiform needle therapy on facial spasm. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven cases of such disease were divided into two groups. The treatment group (n=79) were treated with fire needle therapy at Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Cuanzhu (BL 2) and Quanliao (SI 18), and the control group (n=48) with filiform needle therapy at the same acupoints as those in the treatment group. Their therapeutic effects were compared. RESULTS: The cured rate and the effective rate were 64.6% and 92.4% in the treatment group, and 45.8% and 87.5% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fire needle therapy is an effective therapy for facial spasm, with a therapeutic effect better than that of filiform needle therapy.

[Clinical observation on acupuncture plus laser radiation for treatment of facial spasm].

OBJECTIVE: To search for a convenient, safe and effective method for treatment of facial spasm. METHODS: Three hundred and ninety cases of facial spasm were divided into 2 groups in order of visiting: medication group of 200 cases were treated with routine medicine, and acupuncture and laser treatment group of 190 cases treated with acupuncture plus laser radiation. After treatment of 30 days, their therapeutic effects were summarized. RESULTS: The total effective rate, the cured rate and the 6-month recurrence rate were 93.7%, 64.7%, 6.7% in the acupuncture and laser treatment group, and the corresponding figures were 62.0%, 32.0% and 33.9% in the medication group respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture plus laser radiation is a convenient and safe method for treatment of facial spasm.

Mind-refreshing acupuncture therapy for facial spasm, trigeminal neuralgia and stubborn facial paralysis.

It has been proved by clinical experiment that needling at Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12) and Tianzhu (BL 10) can markedly improve the blood supply to the vertebral basilar artery, increase the cerebral blood flow, and relax the spasm of the vascular smooth muscles. The combined use of Shangxing (GV 23) and Yintang (EX-HN3) can give the effects of resuscitating and tranquilizing the mind, dispelling wind, dredging the channels, and relieving spasm and pain. In short, the above therapy may turn the pathological state into a normal physiological state, and bring a quicker recovery for patients with facial spasm, trigeminal neuralgia and stubborn facial paralysis.

Hemifacial spasm in Singapore: clinical characteristics and patients ' perceptions.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics and patients ' perception of hemifacial spasm (HFS) in Singapore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical survey of 137 consecutive patients with HFS seen in our Botulinum Toxin Clinic over a 15-month period was undertaken. RESULTS: Forty-six men and 91 women were interviewed. Their mean age at onset of HFS was 48 years. The median disease duration was 60 months (range, 2 to 360 months). Left-sided spasm was common in 51.8 % of patients, and the orbicularis oculi was the first muscle to be affected in 86.1 % of them. The majority (65 %) had the spasm aggravated by stress and anxiety. In fact, 32 patients perceived stress and anxiety as a possible aetiology of HFS. Stroke was a main concern in 17 patients and 7 patients thought the spasm was a sign of demonic possession or a bad omen. The spasm embarrassed 75.2 % of the patients, rendered 65 % of them depressed, affected the vision in 60.6 % of them and compromised their work performance in 35.8 %. Overall, treatment was delayed by a median interval of 6 months from onset of symptoms (range, 0 to 132). More than half (53.3 %) tried traditional therapies (acupuncture or herbal medicine), while only 48.2 % had botulinum toxin as the initial treatment. All patients eventually received botulinum toxin injections and more than 90 % showed improvement at 1 month posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical characteristics and patients ' perception of HFS in Singapore were presented. HFS affects patients both psychosocially and functionally. Effective treatment with botulinum toxin exists and should be provided early to the patients.

[Treatment of local hyperkinesis]. / Lechenie lokal'nogo giperkineza.

Insufficient effectiveness of medicamentous therapy of local hyperkineses necessitated quest for other treatment options. In view of pathogenetic features of this pathological process we have chosen reflexotherapy to be instituted in our patients: auriculopuncture, electro-corporal- and acupuncture which have been shown to be expedient and effective in treating 65 patients with local hyperkinesis (blepharospasm, facial paraspasm, writer's spasm, spasmodic torticollis). Positive findings from clinical and paraclinical methods of investigation corroborate the results of the treatments administered.

Treatment of 86 cases of facial spasm by acupuncture and pressure on otopoints.

The combined method of acupuncture with pressure on otopoints (the combination group) was used to treat 86 patients with facial spasm; and simple acupuncture and simple pressure on otopoints were respectively applied in the other two groups of patients as controls. The total effective rates of the combination group, the acupuncture group and the pressure on otopoints group were 95.4%, 92.1% and 62.5% respectively; and the cure rates were 38.4%, 15.8% and 5% respectively. The differences in results of the three groups show statistically marked significance, indicating that the therapeutic effectiveness of the combined method of acupuncture with pressure on otopoints is better than the other two therapeutic methods.

[Torticollis spasmodicus, blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. Subjective evaluation of therapy by patients]. / Torticollis spasmodicus, Blepharospasmus und hemifazialer Spasmus. Subjektive Bewertung der Therapie durch Patienten.

Injections with botulinum toxin type A (BTX) are considered the first-line treatment for spasmodic torticollis (ST), blepharospasm (BL) and hemifacial spasm (HFS). Because BTX brings only temporary and partial relief, patients frequently try other additional therapies to minimize their symptoms. The subjective rating of all therapies ever tried by patients with ST, BL and HFS was evaluated by using a simple questionnaire. Two hundred questionnaires were considered (112 TS, 54 BL, 34 HFS). BTX was rated subjectively the best therapy in all three diagnostic groups (median: 2 = good effect). Despite Citalopram and physiotherapy (median: 3 = average effect), all other therapies were rated with a median of > or = 4 (= minimal effect). Patients with ST tried 7.7, patients with BL 2.4 and patients with HFS 2.6 different types of therapy. In conclusion, BTX is the most effective treatment for patients with ST, BL and HFS, as rated subjectively. Further evaluation of therapies additional to BTX injections is recommended.