[Efficacy observation on chrondromalacia patellae treated with fire needling technique at high stress points].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy differences between fire needling technique of filiform needle at high stress points and regular acupuncture on chrondromalacia patellae so as to provide the better therapy for the treatment of this disease. METHODS: Sixty cases of chrondromalacia patellae were randomized into a fire needling group (28 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (32 cases). In the fire needling group, 5 to 6 high stress points were localized according to the symptoms, palpation and imaging condition and were stimulated with fire needling technique of filiform needle. The treatment was given once every two days, 5 treatments made one session. In the routine acupuncture group, the regular acupuncture was applied at Dubi (ST 35), Xiguan (LR 7), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The treatment was given once every day, 5 treatments made one session. Lysholm score, VSA score, patella title angle (PTA) and lateral patella angle (LPA) of the affected knees before and after treatment, as well as the clinical efficacy after treatment were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA were all improved apparently in the two groups (all P < 0.01). After the treatments, the improvements in Lysholm score, VSA score, PTA and LPA in the fire needling group were more obvious than those in the routine acupuncture group (all P < 0.05). The effective rate was 92.9% (26/28) in the fire needling group, better than 87.5% (28/32) in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The fire needling technique of filiform needle at the high stress points relieves the clinical symptoms of chrondromalacia patellae and recovers the biodynamical structure of patellae.

[Blood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with Chinese herb lotion for treatment of edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To search for a therapy for edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated by blood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with herbal lotion, and the control group were treated by oral administration of diuretic. The therapeutic effect was observed after treatment for 10 days. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 85.0% in the treatment group and 70.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The cumulative score of symptoms of edema, improvement of skin pitting, damp and cool sensation, the function of limbs and the total score in the treatment group were better than the control group (P < 0.05); the cumulative score of TCM syndrome after treatment, improvement of the symptoms of limb flaccid paralysis, shortness of breath, weakness, dark-pale tongue proper and the total cumulative score were better than the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Blood-letting puncture at 12 Jing-well points of the hand combined with fuming and washing with Chinese herbal lotion is effective for edema of the affected limb in patients of hemiplegia after stroke.