title: Clinical effects of needle-pricking therapy on peripheral facial paralysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of needle-pricking therapy on peripheral facial paralysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 162 patients with peripheral facial paralysis, 107 of whom were treated with usual care (conventional and alternative treatments) and 55 of whom were additionally treated with needle-pricking therapy on 3 specific extra-meridian acupuncture points known as 'Samjoong' (Sānchóng in Chinese). We evaluated changes in facial motor functions and sequelae using the Yanagihara and gross House-Brackmann grading systems before and after treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Yanagihara score and House-Brackmann grade significantly improved after treatments in both groups. However, the needle-pricking therapy group showed greater improvements in Yanagihara score and House-Brackmann grade than the usual care group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that Samjoong needle-pricking therapy could be applied as an adjunct therapy to usual care for patients with peripheral facial paralysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: You-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Seunghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sangmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ungin
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Keun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Dongwoo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Sanghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome