ACUPUNCTURE ON TRAUMATIC PARAPLEGIA

Li Guanrong

(Sichuan Medical College)

Traditional Chinese medicine theoretically regards traumatic paraplegia as resulting from injury to the Dumai. In acupuncture therapy, the principle is to "dredge" the Dumai regulate the Vital energy and blood supply and strengthen the physique by applying acupuncture to the proximal points for therapeutic effect in distal lesions. From Feb 1972 to June 1982 107 cases of traumatic paraplegia were treated with the combination of acupuncture and medico-athletics procedures with variable improvements of motor and vegetative functions for prevention and improvement of bedsores.

The age of the patients ranged between 16 and 55, 96.6% being youngsters. There were 99 males and 8 females. 75.83% were workers. Among the total of 107 cases 59 were complete transverse myelopathies and 48 incomplete myelopahies. The duration of illness ranged from 2 months to 15 years. Each course of combined treatment lasted for 6 months. The number of courses gave ranged from 2 to 12. The points selected for acupuncture were as follows: for "dredging" or strengthening of Dumai 9 points along the meridian were selected. For regulation of urinary and bowel function the points of Baliao Tianshu, Qihai, Zhongji and Sanyinjiao were selected. The points Fengchi, Jianyu Quchi, Zhigou and Hegu were needled for paralysis of the upper limbs and Biguan, Futu, Liangqiu, Fengchi, Yanglingquan, Xuanzhong, Yinmen, Xiexi, Shenmai and Zhaohai were selected for paralysis of the lower limbs. Points lianshi, Zusanii, Zhongwan, Pishu and Weishu were used to stimulate appetite.

Procedure of needling: For spinal trauma the strengthening effect was the optimal method which was obtained by mild stimulation. For lesions of the mild reinforcing and mild reducing was effected by moderate stimulation in injury of the cauda equina. The needling should be monitored by the nature of subjective transmission of the stimulus. For points along the back of the patient, downward transmission of the stimulus was required. For the ventral point Tianshu, the transmission should be downward toward the inguinal region, and for the point Qihai it should be transmitted to the genital region. In urinary and defecation disturbances, marked transmission or radiation of needling sensation were observed Acupuncture was generally done in the morning and exercises and training to improve function were given in the afternoon.

The Criteria of therapeutic effect:

(1) Clinical Cure:

Patient can walk freely, has good urinary control and can return to work.

(2) Improvement:

Patient can walk with the aid of crutches with recovery of sphincter function.

(3) Ineffective:

No restoration of sensation, mobility and sphincter function.

Results: 8 cases (7.5%) were clinically cured, 89 cases improved and 10 cases ineffected. The total effective rate was 90.7%.