Evaluation on Curative Effect of Acupuncture Combined with Medicine on Facial Atrophy Caused by Peripheral Facial Paralysis Based on Echocardiography Indexes of Facial Muscle
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the curative effect of the therapy of acupuncture combined with medicine on facial atrophy caused by peripheral facial paralysis based on the echocardiography indexes of facial muscle. Methods: A total of 146 cases of patients with facial atrophy caused by peripheral facial paralysis were selected and divided into the control group and the acupuncture combined with medicine group according to random number table method, with 46 cases in each group. During study, 3 cases were excluded from each of the two groups, finally 70 cases were included in both group. The control group was given acupuncture for treatment, and the acupuncture combined with medicine group was additionally treated with modified Qianzheng San based on the treatment of the control group. The two groups were treated for 3 courses of treatment, with 10 days being 1 course. The clinical effects, the scores of symptoms and vital signs and facial nerve function, the levels of echocardiography indexes of facial muscle and the incidence of abnormal echocardiograph were compared between the two groups. The correlation between symptom and sign score and facial muscle ultrasound indexes, and the corrleation between facial nerve function score and facial muscle ultrasound indexes were analyzed. Results: After treatment,the total effective rate was 95.71% in the acupuncture combined with medicine group,higher than that of 84.29% in the control group, the difference being significant (P<0.05). The scores of symptoms and vital signs and facial nerve function in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment,and the above two scores in the acupuncture combined with medicine group were lower than those in the control group, differences being significant (P<0.05). The thickness of frontal muscle, depressor anguli oris muscle and depressor labii inferioris muscle of the affected side in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment,and the thickness of frontal muscle, depressor anguli oris muscle and depressor labii inferioris muscle of the affected side in the acupuncture combined with medicine group were greater than those in the control group,differences being significant (P<0.05). The incidence of increased echo signal and fuzzy and thickening muscle fiber in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment,and incidence of increased echo signal and fuzzy and thickening muscle fiber in the acupuncture combined with medicine group were lower than those in the control group, differences being significant (P<0.05). Each facial muscle ultrasound index was negatively correlated with the symptom and sign scores and facial nerve function scores, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The therapy of acupuncture combined with medicine has a significant curative effect on facial atrophy caused by peripheral facial paralysis,which can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and facial nerve function, and the thickness of such echocardiography indexes as facial muscle and abnormal echocardiography has certain value in evaluation of curative effect.