ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of different acupuncture intervention time on the improvement of the symptoms of acute facial neuritis and the length of recovery time, and to find the best interventional opportunity for acute facial neuritis.@*METHODS@#A total of 120 patients with acute facial neuritis (all unilateral onset) were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely group A, group B, group C and group D, 30 cases in each group. Acupuncture performed within 3 days after onset in the group A; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were received within 3 days after onset, and acupuncture was started from the 4th day in the group B; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were given within 5 days after onset, and acupuncture was administered from the 6th day in the group C; oral mecobalamin dispersible tablets and multivitamin B tablets were given within 7 days after onset, and acupuncture was applied from the 8th day in the group D. Penetration needling was the main acupuncture treatment, with infrared radiation on the cheeks, once a day, 6 days a week and 3 weeks were given. After treatment, the symptom scores (Portmann scores) of the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset were compared. The time of improvement and the clinical effect of each group were compared.@*RESULTS@#On the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset, the Portmann scores of the 4 groups were higher than those before treatment (all <0.05). On the 7th, 14th and 28th day after onset, the Portmann scores in the group A were higher than those in the other 3 groups (all <0.05). There was significant difference between both pairs of group B, group C and group D (all <0.05). The total effective rate in the group A was 96.7% (29/30), which was higher than 93.3% (28/30), 86.7% (26/30) and 83.3% (25/30) in the other 3 groups (all <0.05). The difference between the 4 groups in the beginning of improvement, significant improvement time and clinical recovery time was statistically significant (all <0.05), and the group A was optimal.@*CONCLUSION@#Early intervention of acupuncture with acute facial neuritis can appropriately slow the progression of facial nerve injury, improve the therapeutic effect, and shorten the clinical recovery time.