title: [Analysis of evidence-based clinical practices on timing factor in acupuncture treatment for facial paralysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  By using the evidence-based medicine approach to analyze the optimum timing in acupuncture treatment for facial paralysis, to provide the scientific evidence for acupuncture clinical practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer searches were conducted in the CNKI literature database from January 1994 to August 2009, using the keywords "facial paralysis", "acupuncture" and "acupuncture timing/treatment timing". According to the standard of Cochrane, the literatures were retrieved and conducted with evidence-based analysis. The SPSS 13.0 Software was used for the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 133 retrieved literatures which met the inclusion criteria of the study, there were 11 literatures on the effect of acupuncture or electroacupuncture treatment in acute phase observation group and conventional medical treatment group. Using Mann-Whitney U test, the difference of treatment effect is statistically significant (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early intervention in acupuncture treatment for facial paralysis in acute phase can improve the efficacy and promote neurological recovery. In the acute phase, animal experiments and clinical observations provide evidence to support the application of electric needle and traditional acupuncture treatments.
authors.affiliation: Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of TCM, Sichuan Province People's Hospital, Chengdu 610072, China. zhangchong77@126.com
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome