Fuʹs subcutaneous needling for postauricular pain in the treatment of acute idiopathic facial paralysis: a randomized controlled trial

To observe the clinical efficacy of Fuʹs subcutaneous for postauricular pain in the treatment of acute idiopathic facial paralysis.

A total of 66 patients with acute idiopathic facial paralysis accompanied by postauricular pain were randomly divided into an observation group (33 cases, 3 cases dropped out) and a control group (33 cases, 1 case dropped out, 2 cases excluded). Both groups received basic drug treatment (oral administration of prednisone acetate tablets and mecobalamin tablets). The control group was treated with routine acupuncture at Cuanzhu (BL2), Sizhukong (TE23), Yifeng (TE17), Wangu (GB12) on the affected side and Hegu (LI4) on the contralateral side. The observation group received Fuʹs subcutaneous combined with routine acupuncture, with the Fuʹs subcutaneous at 2 cun lateral to Jianjing (GB21) on the affected side. Both groups were treated once a day, 5 days a week with 2 days of rest, one course lasting 7 days, and a total of 4 courses was given. Before and after treatment, the Sunnybrook (Toronto) facial nerve score, House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve functional grading, and postauricular pain visual analog scale (VAS) score were observed in both groups. Postauricular pressure pain threshold was detected, and the recovery time and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups.

Compared before treatment, the Sunnybrook (Toronto) facial nerve scores and postauricular pressure pain threshold of both groups were increased after treatment (P＜0.001), while the H-B facial nerve functional grading and postauricular pain VAS scores were decreased (P＜0.001). The observation group had higher Sunnybrook (Toronto) facial nerve score and postauricular pressure pain threshold than the control group (P＜0.01, P＜0.001), and lower H-B facial nerve functional grading and postauricular pain VAS score than the control group (P＜0.01, P＜0.001). The recovery time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group (P＜0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, which was higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the control group (P＜0.05).

Early Fuʹs subcutaneous needling can effectively relieve postauricular pain in patients with acute idiopathic facial paralysis, improve postauricular pressure pain threshold, enhance facial nerve function, shorten recovery time, and improve clinical efficacy.