[Clinical observation on relation of different therapeutic methods with prognosis of acute idiopathetic facial paralysis].

OBJECTIVE: To find the optimal therapeutic program for treatment of acute idiopathetic facial paralysis. METHODS: Four hundred and seventy-seven cases were randomly divided into acupuncture group (group A) treated by routine point multiple needle shallow needling, electroacupuncture group (group B) treated by routine point plus electroacupuncture, drug group (group C), acupuncture plus drug group (group D), and electroacupuncture plus drug group (group E). After treatment of 40 sessions, their therapeutic effects were compared. RESULTS: The effective rate was 84.0%, 57.1%, 60.6%, 95.8% and 73.5% in the 5 groups respectively; the effective rate in the group D was the best with a very significant difference as compared with other groups (P < 0.01); and there were very significant differences in the therapeutic effect as the group A compared with the group B and C (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with drug is the best program for treatment of acute idiopathetic facial paralysis, and the multiple needle shallow needling is better than electroacupuncture or simple medication.