OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of "paraplegic triple needling" and conventional needling on psychological and daily living ability of patients with spinal cord injury.

METHODSA total of 50 patients with spinal cord injury were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each one. Rehabilitation training was applied in the two groups. In the observation group, on the basis of rehabilitation training, "paraplegic triple needling" was added, namely, puncturing the governor vessel (GV) and back- points respectively in the upper and lower segments of the injury plane and locating the key muscle movement points of the lower extremities by the peripheral nerve electrical stimulation device. Electroacupuncture (EA) was given at the points up and down the two sections of the GV points, back- points, the key muscle movement points. In the control group, conventional needling was applied at the points of GV, back- points, Huantiao (GB 30), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuanzhong (GB 39) and Yanglingquan (GB 34). The treatment was given once a day, the treatment for a month as one course and a total of 2 course were required. In addition, 25 health checkers were selected at the physical examination center of General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region as a normal control group. The content of peripheral serum 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) was tested before treatment, 1 course and 2 courses of treatment, The modified Barthel index (MBI) was used to observe the daily living activities, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) were used to evaluate the psychological status.

RESULTSIn the two groups, the content of serum 5-HT was lower than that in the normal control group before treatment (both <0.05). After one course of treatment, the MBI score and content of serum 5-HT were all increase in the two groups; the HAMA score and HAMD score were all reduced (all <0.05); the results in the observation were better than those in the control group (all <0.05). After 2 courses of treatment, the MBI score and content of serum 5-HT were all increased in the two groups, and the HAMA score and HAMD score were all reduced (all <0.05), but the difference was not significant statistically between the two groups (all >0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the content of serum 5-HT in patients with spinal cord injury was negatively correlated with disease course, HAMA and HAMD score (all <0.05), and positively correlated with MBI score (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere are differences in the content of serum 5-HT between the normal person and the patients with pinal cord injury. The content of serum 5-HT can early predict the depression and anxiety in patients with spinal cord injury. Compared with the conventional needling, "paraplegic triple needling" can improve depression and anxiety in the early stage and improve the daily living ability of patients with spinal cord injury.