OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy on cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury (TBD treated with acupuncture and cognitive training.

METHODSSixty patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one, and 5 cases of them were dropped out due to the earlier discharge. Finally, there were 28 cases in the observation group and 27 cases in the control group. In the control group, the cognitive training and conventional treatment were applied. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Geshu (BL 17) and Fenglong (ST 40), once a day, for 4 weeks totally. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were adopted to evaluate the cognitive function in the patients of post-TBI cognitive impairment.

RESULTS(1) After treatment, the total score in MMSE and the score of each item were increased significantly as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 05). Except for the score of immediate recall, the score in MMSE and the score of each of the other items were increased significantly in the observation group as compared with those in the control group after treatment (all P<0. 05). (2)After treatment, the total score in MoCA and the score of each item were increased significantly as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<. 05). Except for the score of nomenclature item, the total score in MoCA and the score of each of the other items were increased significantly in the observation group as compared with those in the control group after treatment (all P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONBoth the simple cognitive training and the combined therapy of acupuncture and cognitive training improve MMSE and MoCA scores and relieve the cognitive impairment induced by TBI. But the combined therapy achieves the much better efficacy.