RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To compare the curative effect between the warm acupuncture at Yifeng (TE 17) combined with conventional acupuncture and TDP plus conventional acupuncture on facial paralysis with periauricular pain during pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 68 patients were randomized into an observation group (36 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (32 cases, 1 case dropped off). First week, TDP light was used on the affected side in the control group, and warm acupuncture at Yinfeng (TE 17) on the affected side was used in the observation group, both once a day. From the second week, both groups were given acupuncture at Chengjiang (CV 24) and the affected side of Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4), etc. and electroacupuncture (continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency) was connected at Cuanzhu (BL 2) and Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Jiache (ST 6) and Dicang (ST 4). Both treatments were given every other day for 4 weeks totally. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the periauricular pain degree before treatment and after 1 week of treatment, the House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading scale and facial disability index (FDI) score before treatment and after 2, 4 weeks of treatment were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After 1 week of treatment, the VAS scores of both groups decreased (P<0.001), and the variation in the observation group was larger than the control group (P<0.01). After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the H-B grading of both groups were improved (P<0.01, P<0.05), and those in the observation group were better than the control group (P<0.05). After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the FDI physical function (FDIP) scores of both groups were higher (P<0.01), and the FDI social life function (FDIS) scores were lower than before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the FDIP scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Warm acupuncture at Yinfeng (TE 17) combined with conventional acupuncture can effectively improve the periauricular pain and facial nerve function in patients of facial paralysis with periauricular pain during pregnancy, and the curative effect is better than TDP plus conventional acupuncture.