[Clinical observation on superior cluneal nerve entrapment syndrome treated by relaxation therapy of in-row multi-needling technique].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy on superior cluneal nerve entrapment syndrome treated by relaxation therapy of in-row multi-needling technique. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases were randomized into a multi-needling group, an acupotomy group and a conventional acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one. In the multi-needling group, the perpendicular or oblique puncture was applied to the affected area of the lumbar and gluteal region. The chief needling sites were determined in terms of the strong response of acupuncture to be the chief points. The in-row multi-needling technique was applied around the chief needling sites, with lifting, thrusting penetrating method to different directions. Two chief points were connected with the G6805 low frequency pulse therapeutic apparatus. In the acupotomy group, the acupotomy was applied to 3 to 4 affected sites in each treatment. In the conventional acupuncture group, Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Jiaji (EX-B 2) in the lumbar region, Zhibian (BL 54) and the others were selected and connected with the G6805 low frequency pulse therapeutic apparatus. The cases in each group were treated for 4 weeks. The improvements of pain score, therapeutic efficacy and comprehensive satisfaction assessment were compared among 3 groups in 2 and 4 weeks of treatment separately. RESULTS: The pain scores in each group were reduced apparently in 2 and 4 weeks of treatment separately (all P<0.05), and the pain score in the acupotomy group was lower than that in the conventional acupuncture group in 2 weeks of treatment. In 4 weeks of treatment, the pain scores in the multi-needling group and the acupotomy group were lower than that in the conventional acupuncture group (both P<0.05) and the pain score in the multi-needling group was lower than that in the acupotomy group (P<0.05). In 2 weeks of treatment, the remarkable effective rate in the acupotomy group was 62.5% (25/40), which was superior significantly to 25.0% (10/40) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0.05). The other differences among the groups were not significant statistically in comparison. In 4 weeks of treatment, the remarkable effective rate was 90. 0% (36/40) in the multi-needling group and was 67.5% (27/40) in the acupotomy group, which were superior to 35.0% (14/40) in the conventional acupuncture group (both P<0.05). The remarkably effective rate in the multi-needling group was better than that in the acupotomy group (P<0.05). The satisfaction for the patients in the multi-needling group was higher obviously than that in any of the other two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The relaxation therapy of in-row multi-needling technique achieves the definite therapeutic effect on superior cluneal nerve entrapment syndrome. The efficacy is superior to acupotomy and the conventional acupuncture. The therapeutic effect is better for the cases of the extensive affected scope, unclear location and large distribution in patches caused by the adhesion of muscles and fascia especially.

Clinical study on auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin for treatment of a variety of pain syndrome and dysfunction.

This paper is a summary of clinical studies on auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin for treatment of pain and dysfunction in recent 10 years. Auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin was used to observe rapid analgesic effects and clinical efficacy on cervical spondylopathy, periarthritis of shoulder, pain in waist and lower extremities, migraine, and other peripheral neuropathic pain, and stroke sequels, soft tissue injury, and so on. Self-control method was used in the studies at the first stage, and clinically randomized control trial methodwas used for systematic comparison with other therapies at the second stage. Results indicated that the auricular acupoint penetration needling along the skin had obviously clinical effects on cervical spondylopathy, periarthritis of shoulder, pain in waist and lower extremities, migraine, soft tissue injuries and stroke sequels, with a better rapid analgesic effect as compared with ear perpendicular needling method.

[Effect of penetrative needling of otopoints combined with body acupuncture on limb myodynamia and neurofunction in patients with acute cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of different acupuncture methods in improving the myodynamia and neuronfunction of patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). METHODS: A total of 90 ACI patients were randomized into ear-acupuncture, scalp-acupuncture and body-acupuncture groups, with 30 cases in each. For patients of ear-acupuncture group, the main otopoints used for penetrative needling were Zhen(MA-AT)-Nie(MA-AT)-E(MA-AT) on the affected side in combination with Jian(MA-SF 4)-Suogu(MA-SF 5) and Zhou(MA-SF 3)-Wan(MA-SF 2)-Zhi(MA-SF 1) for upper-limb paralysis, and with Tun (MA-AH 5)-Zuogushenjing(MA-AH 6), Kuan(MA-AH 4)-Xi(MA-AH 3), and Xi(MA-AH 3)-Huai(MA-AH 2)-Zhi(MA-AH 1) for lower-limb paralysis, and body acupoints as Jianyu(LI 15), Hegu(LI 4), Huantiao(GB 30), Taixi(KI 3), etc. For patients of scalp-acupuncture group, scalp-points used were Dingnie Qianxiexian(MS 6) and Dingnie Houxiexian(MS 7) on the healthy side, and combined with body acupoints (the same as those mentioned above). For patients of body-acupuncture group, only body acupoints were used. The treatment was given once daily for 14 days. RESULTS: Comparison among 3 groups showed that the increased myodynamia of both upper and lower limbs in ear-acupuncture and scalp-acupuncture groups was significantly superior to that of body-acupuncture group (P < 0.01). The neurofunctional deficit scores of ear-acupuncture and scalp-acupuncture groups were significantly lower than that of body-acupuncture group (P < 0.01) after the treatment. In comparison with pre-acupuncture, the neurofunctional deficit scores of the 3 groups lessened considerably after the treatment (P < 0.01). Of the 30 cases in each of earacupuncture, scalp-acupuncture and body-acupuncture groups, 0, 1 and 0 were cured basically, 21, 18 and 4 experienced marked improvement, 9, 11 and 20 were improved, 0, 0 and 6 failed, respectively. The therapeutic effects of ear-acupuncture and scalp-acupuncture were obviously superior to that of body-acupuncture group (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between ear-acupuncture and scalp-acupuncture groups in myodynamia improvement, neurofunctional deficit scores and clinical curative effect (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can effectively improve ACI patients' clinical symptoms and the therapeutic effect of ear-acupuncture and scalp-acupuncture was superior to that of simple body acupuncture.

[Clinical observation on acupuncture combined with inductance coupling for treatment of delayed union and nonunion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with inductance coupling for treatment of delayed union and nonunion. METHODS: Sixty cases with delayed union and nonunion after operation were randomly divided into 2 groups. The observation group (n=30) received acupuncture with Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39) and Taichong (LR 3) selected as main points, in combination with inductance coupling treatment and the routine treatment. The patients (n=30) in the control group received routine treatment. Bony callus growth was observed by X-ray 30 and 120 days after treatment respectively. RESULTS: Twenty-three cases 30 days after treatment and 29 cases 120 days after treatment were found the bone callus growth in the observation group , and 11 cases and 17 cases in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), the observation group being better than the control group, with no bad event and side effect. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with inductance coupling is a good method for promoting fracture healing.