ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of tube moxibustion plus point-toward-point needling method for refractory facial paralysis. Methods: A total of 100 patients with refractory facial paralysis who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 50 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with acupuncture by point-toward-point needling method, mainly in the affected eye, cheek and mouth areas. The observation group was given additional tube moxibustion after receiving the point-toward-point needling method, which inserted a tube moxibustion device into the external acoustic meatus 1 cm on the affected side for 20 min. Both groups were treated once a day, 6 times a week, for 4 consecutive weeks. The House-Brackmann scale was scored before and after treatment, and the facial nerve electromyogram data were collected. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.6％, which was higher than 64.6％ of the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The proportion of new-onset facial paralysis complications (facial synkinesis, facial spasm, facial paralysis perversion, and crocodile tears) in the observation group was 6.4％, which was lower than 35.4％ in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). In the observation group, the numbers of cases after treatment with the ratio of action potential amplitude between the affected side and the healthy side increased by 10％-30％ and over 30％ were more than those in the control group. And the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Tube moxibustion plus point-toward-point needling method has a better effect in improving symptoms of refractory facial paralysis, decreasing the incidence of sequelae, and increasing clinical efficacy than the point-toward- point needling method alone.