title: [Facial nerve function index evaluation on deviation of the mouth in intractable facial palsy treated with sticking needle and traction method on three points of the mouth].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To probe into the effective acupuncture technique for deviation of the mouth in intractable facial palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and one cases of intractable facial palsy were randomly divided into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (53 cases). Cuanzhu (BL 2), Sibai (ST 2), Jiache (ST 6) and Qianzheng (Extra) on the affected side were punctured in two groups. Additionally, three acupoints of the mouth were supplemented, named Dicang (ST 4), Kouheliao (LI 19) and Jiachengjiang (Extra) were added, and the sticking needle and traction method was adopted on them in observation group. the routine needling technique was applied in control group. The treatment was given once a day and 10-day treatment made one session. The changes in facial nerve function index (FNFI) were observed in 2 sessions of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, FNFI in two groups increased significantly (both P < 0.01), but the improvement in observation group was better than that in control group (P < 0.01). In observation group, the basic recovery rate of FNFI was 87.5% (42/48), which was higher than that (67.9%, 36/53) in control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sticking needle and traction method o three points is the quite effective approach in the treatment of deviation of the mouth in intractable facial palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM, Wuxi 214000, Jiangsu Province, China. fenghua19781004@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Ya-Qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Chang-Xu
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Tian-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth; D014143:Traction; D055815:Young Adult