Effect of acupuncture at Baihui acupoint through Qubin acupoint combined with ganglioside in the treatment of cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of acupuncture at Baihui acupoint through Qubin acupoint combined with ganglioside in the treatment of cerebral palsy, and their effects on blood flow, lower limb function, muscle tone and peripheral platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-3 (ICAM-3) levels. Methods Ninety children with cerebral palsy in Henan General Hospital from August 2018 to August 2019 were randomly divided into control group and observation group according to sealed envelope method, with 45 cases in each group. The children in control group were treated with gangliosides while the children in observation group were treated by acupuncture at Baihui acupoint through Qubin acupoint combined with ganglioside. During treatment, the children underwent routine rehabilitation training. The efficacy, cerebral blood flow, lower limb function and muscle tension and levels of peripheral blood PECAM-1 and ICAM-3 were observed in the two groups. Results After treatment, the total effective rate of treatment in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the cerebral artery systolic peak flow (Vs) and mean blood flow velocity (Vm) in the two groups were significantly increased compared with those before treatment while the pulsation index (PI) and vascular resistance index (RI) were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the levels of Vs and Vm after treatment in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05) while the levels of PI and RI were lower than those in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of D and E in Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) in the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the modified Ashworth scale scores of adductor, hamstring and gastrocnemius muscles were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the GMFM-88 scores in observation group after treatment were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05), while the muscle tension scores were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of peripheral blood PECAM-1 and ICAM-3 in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the levels in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Acupuncture at Baihui acupoint through Qubin acupoint combined with ganglioside has significant efficacy in the treatment of children patients with cerebral palsy. And it can improve cerebral blood flow and lower motor function, reduce muscle tension, regulate levels of peripheral blood PECAM-1 and ICAM-3, and improve the body immunity. Key words: Acupuncture; Acupuncture; Baihui; Qubin