OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for copracrasia.

METHODSBy prospective live randomized controlled trial, 40 cases with copracrasia were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group and a medication group, 20 cases in each one. In the acupuncture-moxibustion group, acupuncture was applied at Ciliao (BL 32), Changqiang (GV 1) and Tianshu (ST 25) and mild moxibustion was used at Qihai (CV 6). Treatment was given for 12 weeks and 32 times, 3 times a week in the front 8 weeks, 2 times a week in the latter 4 weeks. In the medication group, conventional symptomatic treatment, support therapy, and complications preventing and treating were adopted for 12 weeks. Anal incontinence score (Vaizey incontinence score), effective rate and self-rating score for satisfaction were observed before and after treatment and in the follow-up period.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks' treatment in the two groups, Vaizey incontinence' scores were both decreased (both P<0. 05), and after treatment and in the follow-up period the scores in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than those in the corresponding period in the medication group (both P< 0. 05). The effective rate of the acupuncture-moxibustion group was 80. 0% (16/20), which was statistically different from 50. 0% (10/20) in the medication group (P<0. 05). The effective rate in the follow-up period of the acupuncture-moxibustion group was 90. 0% (18/20) and it was not statistically different from 80. 0% (16/20) in the medication group (P>0. 05). The self-rating scores for satisfaction in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were superior to those in the medication group after treatment and in the follow-up period (both P< 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion could improve copracrasia and the acupuncture-moxibustion rules and characteristics for the disorder should be paid attention to in the further research.