To explore the therapeutic effect of dongjin acupuncture therapy in combination of zhihuang stasis-pain relief ointment for acute ankle sprain.

The patients with acute ankle sprain were divided into an observation group and a control group according the random number table, 62 cases in each group. In the control group, the patients were treated with external application of zhihuang stasis-pain relief ointment, once a day and for 2 weeks. In the observation group, in addition to the treatment as the control group, dongjin acupuncture therapy was operated at 3 target sites near the tender points,20 min each time, once a day, 3 times a week and for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, the score of visual analog scale (VAS), the score of American orthopaedic foot and ankle society ankle-hindfoot scale (AOFAS), the range of motion (ROM) in plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, and the score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms were observed in the two groups. The clinical effect of each group was assessed.

After treatment, VAS score and TCM symptom score were reduced in comparison with those before treatment in either group (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). AOFAS score and ROM of plantar flexion and dorsiflexion were increased after treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those outcomes in the observation group were superior to the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.77% (60/62) in the observation group, which was higher than the control group (82.26%, 51/62, P<0.05).

Dongjin acupuncture therapy combined with zhihuang stasis-pain relief ointment significantly alleviates the symptoms such as pain, and improve ankle joint function in patients with acute ankle sprain.