ABSTRACT
Objective To detect the therapeutic effectiveness of electro-acupuncture combined with Leitoufenggranules for primary trigeminal neuralgia.MethodsA total of 60 patients with PTN were randomly divided into the control group and the treatment group (30 in each group). Control group received Carbamazepine, and the treatment group received the electro-acupuncture combined withLeitoufeng granules. Both groups were treated for 15 days as a period of treatment with 3 treatments in total. The outcomes were S hort form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), painratingindex (PRI), the number of word feature (NWC), the present painindex (PPI), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) the clinical effect rate and recurrence rate. Results After treatment, compared with the control group, the effect rate (96.67%vs. 70.00%,χ2=5.880,) in the treatment group showed significantly higher (P=0.015). Compared with the control group, PRI (0.20 ± 0.47 vs. 3.33 ± 4.65,t=3.592), NWC (0.20 ± 0.48vs. 1.40 ± 1.87,t=3.345), VAS (0.20 ± 0.48vs. 1.27 ± 1.66, t=3.321), PPI (0.17 ± 0.38vs.0.90 ± 0.99,t=3.771) and the total score (0.79 ± 1.83vs. 6.90 ± 9.05,t=3.602) in the treatment group were significantly lower (P<0.01). In the follow-up of 3 months, compared with control group, the recurrence rate (10.0%vs.56.6%,χ2=12.675) in the treatment group significantly lower (P<0.01). Conclusion As to the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia, the effect of acupuncture combined with Leitoufeng granules was superior to the Carbamazepine.