OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia between the combined therapy of electroacupuncture and triple puncture and the routine electroacupuncture therapy.

METHODSThirty-six patients of primary trigeminal neuralgia were randomly assigned into an electroacupuncture and triple puncture group (group A) and a routine electroacupuncture group (group B), 18 cases in each one. In the group A, the triple puncture technique was used at the trigger points (the positive reactive points to trigger facial pain) and stimulated with electricity. In the group B, the regular needling technique was used at the trigger points, stimulated with electricity. The treatment was given once every two days, the treatment for 10 days made one session and two sessions were required. Separately, before treatment, at the end of the first session of treatment and at the end of the second session, the score of comprehensive symptoms, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and the cli-nical efficacy were evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with those before treatment, the comprehensive symptom score and VAS score were all reduced after treatment in the two groups (<0.05,<0.01). The scores were reduced much more apparently in the group A as compared with those in the group B (both<0.01). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 44.4% (8/18) and the total effective rate was 88.9% (16/18) in the group A, better than 27.8% (5/18) and 66.7% (12/18) in the group B respectively (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe combined therapy of triple puncture and electroacupuncture at trigger points achieves the better efficacy on primary trigeminal neuralgia as compared with the routine electroacupuncture therapy.