[Research on the correlation between the temperature asymmetry at acupoints of healthy and affected side and the severity index of facial paralysis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the change trend of the temperature asymmetry coefficient at acupoints between healthy side and affected side in patients with facial paralysis, to study the correlation between the temperature asymmetry and Facial Disability Index (FDI), to provide scientific guidance for the application of infrared thermography in the examination of severity of facial paralysis.


METHODS
Using the infrared thermography to observe the temperature asymmetry at acupoints, the temperature asymmetry coefficient at acupoints between healthy side and affected side was calculated; the correlation between the temperature asymmetry and FDI was analyzed.


RESULTS
The correlation between the temperature asymmetry coefficient and FDI was statistically significant at acupoints of Yang-bai (GB 14), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Dicang (ST 4), Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Quanliao (SI 18), Jiache (ST 6) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The temperature asymmetry coefficient at acupoints between healthy side and affected side could be a scientific measure to evaluate the severity of facial paralysis.
Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Qinhuangdao Municipal Hospital of TCM, Qinhuangdao 066000, Hebei Province, China.
Zhen-Ying
ZY
Wu
Xu-Long
XL
Liu
Wen-Xue
WX
Hong
Dong
D
Zhang
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013817:Thermography; D055815:Young Adult