Research on the correlation between the temperature asymmetry at acupoints of healthy and affected side and the severity index of facial paralysis / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the change trend of the temperature asymmetry coefficient at acupoints between healthy side and affected side in patients with facial paralysis, to study the correlation between the temperature asymmetry and Facial Disability Index (FDI), to provide scientific guidance for the application of infrared thermography in the examination of severity of facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the infrared thermography to observe the temperature asymmetry at acupoints, the temperature asymmetry coefficient at acupoints between healthy side and affected side was calculated; the correlation between the temperature asymmetry and FDI was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The correlation between the temperature asymmetry coefficient and FDI was statistically significant at acupoints of Yang-bai (GB 14), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Dicang (ST 4), Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Quanliao (SI 18), Jiache (ST 6) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The temperature asymmetry coefficient at acupoints between healthy side and affected side could be a scientific measure to evaluate the severity of facial paralysis.</p>