BACKGROUND: Fine motor function impairment is the most common complication in various eneephalopathy in children and is the key factor to hinder the normal development. Acupuncture injection brings not only the stimulation of needling but also the pharmaceutical action into play. In combination with occupational therapy,it improves probably the therapeutic effects.DESIGN: Retrospective analysis based on the patients.SETTING: Rehabilitation center of a university-affiliated hospital.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effective method for the treatment of fine motor function impairment of children with encephalopathy.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 31 children with encephalopathy were admitted in clinic of the hospital from November 2001 to October 2002. Inclusion criteria: ① To conform to the diagnostic criteria on cerebral palsy and metal retardation. ② Age<5 years old. ③ Having be assessed with peabody developmental motor scale-fine motor(PDMS-FM) before and after treatment.Exclusion criteria: ① To be less than one session treatment. ② To suffer from progressive disorders and palsy caused by various encephalitis and encephalopathy. ③ Transient delayed motor development . Of those patients,19 cases were male,12 cases female,aged varied from 4 months to 5years. 94% of patients were younger than 3 years old. Twenty cases were in full-term delivery. Eleven cases were born prematurely.METHODS: Thirty-one patients were treated primarily with acupunc ture injection in combination with occupational therapy. Assessment was carried on with PDMS-FM.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary results: To observe the motor improvement in children with encephalopathy. Secondary results: To observe the changes in fine motor quotient (FMQ) before and after treatment.RESULTS: FMQ was increased in 21 cases(68%),grasp capacity index was elevated in 27 cases(87%) and capacity index of visual perception was improved in 31 cases.CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has firmly achieved remarkable therapeutic effects on fine motor function impairment in children with encephalopatby in combination with occupational therapy.