OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia treated with joint needling method at the trigger point.

METHODSOne hundred and three cases of primary trigeminal neuralgia were divided into a joint needling group (53 cases) and a conventional needling group (50 cases) according to the visit sequence. In the joint needling group, the joint needling method was used at the trigger point in the mandibular joint [the positive point near to Xiaguan (ST 7)]; the conventional needling was used at Hegu (LI 4), Waiguan (TE 5), Taichong (LR 3) and Neiting (ST 44). In the conventional needling group, Xiaguan (ST 7) and Fengchi (GB 20) were used and the supplementary acupoints were selected according to the involved branches of trigeminal nerve. The conventional needling method was used. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the score of trigeminal neuralgia were adopted to assess the pain severity and the comprehensive symptoms before treatment and after the 1st and 2nd sessions of treatment separately. The efficacy was assessed.

RESULTSAfter the 1st and 2nd sessions of treatment, VAS score and the comprehensive symptom score were reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in either group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The score reducing in the joint needling group was much superior to that in the conventional needling group (both P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 90.6% (48/53) and 72. 0% (36/50) in the joint needling group and the conventional needling group respectively. The effect in the joint needling group was better than that in the conventional needling group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe joint needling method at the trigger point achieves the significant efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia, which is superior to that with the conventional needling method.