OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20) as main with warming-removing obstruction needling method and routine acupuncture on sudden tinnitus and deafness.

METHODSSixty-two cases were randomly divided into a warming-removing obstruction needling method group (n=32) and a routine acupuncture group (n=30). The warming-removing obstruction needling method group were treated with acupuncture at Fengchi (GB 20) as main point with warming-removing obstruction needling method, in combination with local, distant points of ear with twirling uniform reinforcing-reducing method used; and the routine acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at local and distant points of ear with twirling uniform reinforcing-reducing method adopted. After treatment for 3 courses, their therapeutic effects were compared and followed-up.

RESULTSThe cured-markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the recurrence rate were 90.6%, 96.9% and 3.4% in the war ming-removing obstruction needling method group, and 60.0%, 80.0% and 22.2% in the routine acupuncture group, with a very significant difference in the cured-markedly effective rate (P<0.01) and with a significant difference in the effective rate and the recurrence rate (P<0.05) between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of the warming-removing obstruction needling method group is significantly better than that of the routine acupuncture group with lower recurrence rate after cure.