Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of superficial needling in treating hemifacial spasm.
Methods:Eighty patients with facial spasm were randomized into two groups by the random number table, 40 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by superficial needling at local Ashi points and wrist-ankle acupuncture at the Upper 1, Upper 2 and Upper 3 points; while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. For both groups, the treatment was given once a day, 7 times as a treatment course, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 3 courses.
Results:The total effective rate and recovery rate were respectively 97.5% and 57.5% in the observation group versus 85.0% and 37.5% in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Superficial needling can produce a more significant efficacy in treating hemifacial spasm than ordinary acupuncture.