Effectiveness of acupoint injection combined with specific electromagnetic spectrum irradiation and acupuncture on peripheral facial paralysis.

2025-03-06
Neurological research 47(5)
- Meihua Sun
- Mingli Ge
- Qinglin Shen

PubMed: 40050238
DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2025.2476515

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size: n = 85
Population: 85 patients with PFP
Methods: randomly divided into three groups: control (prednisone acetate), TDP (acupuncture plus specific electromagnetic spectrum irradiation), and acupoint injection (acupuncture plus specific electromagnetic spectrum irradiation combined with vitamin B1 and vitamin B12 acupoint injection)

Objective

To investigate the clinical effectiveness of acupoint injection in the treatment of acute phase of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP).

Methods

A total of 85 patients with PFP were randomly divided into the control group, which was treated by prednisone acetate; the thermal design power (TDP) group, which was treated with acupuncture plus specific electromagnetic spectrum irradiation; and the acupoint injection group, which was treated with acupuncture plus specific electromagnetic spectrum irradiation combined with vitamin B1 (Vit B1) and vitamin B12 (Vit B12) acupoint injection. The treatment effectiveness was evaluated by Portmann score of facial paralysis, House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading, serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, the cure time, and total effective rate.

Results

The scores of Portmann and H-B in the TDP group were significantly higher than the control group, and the acupoint injection group was higher than the TDP group after each course of treatment (p < 0.05). The time to produce a significant effectiveness was shortened in the order of the acupoint injection group > the TDP group > the control group (p < 0.05). The cure rate was higher in the acupoint injection group (100%) than the TDP group (72.41%) and control group (67.86%) (p < 0.05). The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were obviously lower in the TDP group than the control group and in the acupoint injection group were lower than the TDP group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Acupoint injection can significantly improve the curative effect, shorten the cure time, reduce the level of serum inflammatory factors, and promote the recovery of facial nerve function in the acute stage of PFP.

Research Insights

Vitamin B1→Improved Cure Rate
The cure rate was higher in the acupoint injection group (100%) than the TDP group (72.41%) and control group (67.86%) (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Vitamin B1→Improved House-Brackmann Grade
The scores of Portmann and H-B in the TDP group were significantly higher than the control group, and the acupoint injection group was higher than the TDP group after each course of treatment (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B1→Improved Portmann Score
The scores of Portmann and H-B in the TDP group were significantly higher than the control group, and the acupoint injection group was higher than the TDP group after each course of treatment (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B1→Reduced Interleukin-1β Levels
The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were obviously lower in the TDP group than the control group and in the acupoint injection group were lower than the TDP group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B1→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were obviously lower in the TDP group than the control group and in the acupoint injection group were lower than the TDP group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B1→Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Level
The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were obviously lower in the TDP group than the control group and in the acupoint injection group were lower than the TDP group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B1→Shortened Cure Time
The time to produce a significant effectiveness was shortened in the order of the acupoint injection group > the TDP group > the control group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B12→Improved Cure Rate
The cure rate was higher in the acupoint injection group (100%) than the TDP group (72.41%) and control group (67.86%) (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Vitamin B12→Improved House-Brackmann Grade
The scores of Portmann and H-B in the TDP group were significantly higher than the control group, and the acupoint injection group was higher than the TDP group after each course of treatment (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B12→Improved Portmann Score
The scores of Portmann and H-B in the TDP group were significantly higher than the control group, and the acupoint injection group was higher than the TDP group after each course of treatment (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B12→Reduced Interleukin-1β Levels
The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were obviously lower in the TDP group than the control group and in the acupoint injection group were lower than the TDP group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B12→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were obviously lower in the TDP group than the control group and in the acupoint injection group were lower than the TDP group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B12→Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Level
The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were obviously lower in the TDP group than the control group and in the acupoint injection group were lower than the TDP group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Vitamin B12→Shortened Cure Time
The time to produce a significant effectiveness was shortened in the order of the acupoint injection group > the TDP group > the control group (p < 0.05).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate