Objective: To observe the therapeutical effect of acupuncture to the spine injury complicated with spinal cord injury.

Methods: Jiaji points (EX-B2) below the level of injury are selected as the primacy points; while other points are supplemented to the dysfunction of other parts of the body: Jiquan (HT l), Chize (LU 5), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), and Hegu (LI 4) for the upper limbs; Weizhong (BL40), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yanglingquan (GB 34), and Taichong (LR 3) plus the packed puncture in Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming for the lower limbs; and Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), and Tianshu (ST 25) for the dysfunction of urination and bowel movement. The needling is given twice daily, the points in limbs are needled in the morning, and Jiaji points are thrusted in the afternoon, needles are retained for 30 minutes every time, 60 days make one course of treatment.

Results: In reference to “The Evaluation for the Criteria of Diagnosis and Cure for Neurology" Published in 1991, the criteria of curative effect have been set. Among the patients, 6 were basically cured, up to 12.0% (with muscle force over degree IV in all the four limbs and voluntary urination and bowel movement; 25 were markedly effective, up to 50.0% (with muscle force up to degree III and the reflected bladder); 12 cases were improved, up to 24.0% (with the more or less improvement of motoring function and that of urination and bowel movement); and 7 cases, up to 14.0% were unchanged (motoring ejection, and urination and bowel not improved at all.) The effective rate was 86.00/o.

Conclusion: It is understood in modern medicine that in the case of laceration and contusion of spinal cord, because of the scattered bleeding, edema and cell tramna in the injured spinal segment, the recovery of the spinal cord function is incomplete. The patients treated by us have all covered the duration over 6 weeks, beyond the stage of spinal shock with our treatment, the effective fate was up to 86.0%, indicating that acupuncture could stimulate the revivification of the 11 parabiotic" tissues of the spinal cord, thus restoring their physiological ejections. Meanwhile, it is proved that acupuncture could facilitate the absorption of the edema and bleeding of the spinal cord, so as to prevent the transmission to the colliquative necrosis. Traumatic paraplegia could be categorized to "body paralysis" in traditional Chinese medicine, which is due to the injury of Du-Meridian. Jiaji Point, located beside Du-meridian, could serve to activate circulation of Qi and blood, balance yin and Yang, and nourish bones and tendons. The packed needling in Yangming meridian is combined to reinforce the acquired foundation (the source of generating Qi and blood), so the muscles and tissues could get more nutrients, and the recovery of motoring function could be facilitated.

By Zhao Jianguo, Zhou Jizeng, Li Jinbo, Ma Chunyan, Song Qiuzhen