[Randomized controlled clinical trials for electro-spoon-needles treatment of motor dysfunction in cerebral...

To observe the therapeutic effect of spoon-needle cluster electrical stimulation of scalp-points for motor dysfunction of cerebral infarction (CI) patients, so as to analyze its superiority in the treatment of CI.

A total of 164 CI inpatients with motor disturbance were randomly divided into spoon-needle cluster (SNO) group (n=84) and filiform-needle cluster (FNC) group (n80). Multiple filiform needles were inserted into the Yu's 7 scalp-points (Parietal region, Antero-parietal region, etc.), and manipulated for a while, followed by 6 hours' retention of the needles. Multiple spoon needles were fixed to the same scalp-points and then these scalp-points were stimulated with electric pulse for 30 mm. The treatment was given once daily, 6 times a week and for 4 weeks. The therapeutic effect was assessed by Fugl-Meyer assessment scale, Barthel Index and clinical neural function-defect assessment respectively.

Compared to pre-treatment, the scores of Fugl-Meyer assessment scale and daily-life ability assessment of both SNC and FNC groups increased significantly after the treatment (P < 0.01), and those of clinical neural function-defect assessment of these two groups lowered considerably (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between two groups in these 3 indexes( P > 0.05). After the treatment, of the 84 and 80 cases in SNC and FNC groups, 0 and 3 were cured basically, 44 and 45 experienced a marked improvement, 35 and 27 had an improvement, 5 and 5 failed, respectively.

Spoon-needle cluster electro-stirmilation can effectively improve Cl patients' motor dysfiziction and daily-life activity ability, and is comparable to the filiform-needle cluster stimulation in clinical therapeutic effect.