OBJECTIVETo explore the repair effects of acupuncture for promoting the governor vessel and tranquilizing the mind (acupuncture technique) on cerebral white matter injury of premature infants.

METHODSA total of 56 cases of cerebral whiter matter injury of premature infants, the fetal age less than 35 weeks were selected and randomized into an observation group (27 cases) and a control group (29 cases). The routine basic rehabilitation therapy was used in the two groups. Additionally, in the observation group, the acupuncture technique was added, once a day and the treatment for 15 days was as 1 course. Totally, 3 courses of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were adopted to observe the location and severity of cerebral white matter injury. The Gesell developmental scale was used to assess the nerve motor development.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the difference was not significant statistically in the severity of cerebral white matter injury in the infants between the two groups (>0.05). The FA value of cerebral white matter in the interesting zone was increased as compared with that before treatment in the infants of the two groups (both<0.05). The result in the observation group was higher than that in the control groups (<0.05). After treatment, DQ value of each function zone in Gesell scale was all increased as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all<0.05). After treatment, the DQ values of gross motor, fine motor and social adaptability in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all<0.05). After treatment, the difference was not significant in DQ value of individual-social and speech behaviors between the two groups (both>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture technique for promoting the governor vessel and tranquilizing the mind promotes the repair of the function in the premature infants with cerebral white matter injury and further benefits the promotion of the intelligence.