[Effect of scalp acupuncture on cognitive function and self-care ability of daily life in patients with traumatic brain injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of scalp acupuncture on cognitive dysfunction of traumatic brain injury. METHODS: Seventy patients with cognitive dysfunction of traumatic brain injury were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. After treatment, 5 cases dropped off in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with cognitive training; the patients in the observation group were treated with cognitive training and scalp acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Zhisanzhen and Niesanzhen, and the needles were retained for 6 h. The two groups were treated once a day, 6 times a week; one-month treatment was taken as one course, and 3 continuous courses were given. The scores of mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), activity of daily living (ADL) and functional independence measure (FIM) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the MMSE and MoCA scores in the observation group, and ADL and FIM scores in the two groups were significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the improvement of each index in the observation group was more significant than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Scalp acupuncture could improve cognitive function and self-care ability of daily life in patients with traumatic brain injury.