Objective To observe clinical effects of"Santong needling"by stages for patients with moderate and severe peripheral facial paralysis(PFP)in the acute period.Methods Sixty patients with moderate and severe PFP were equally and randomly divided into Santong needling group and control group.The patients of the Santong needling group were treated by shallow puncture of Yifeng(TE 17

on the affected side)and Hegu(LI 4

on the healthy side)without needle manipulation in the acute stage("Qing-tong"

mild dredging)

by oblique-penetrative puncture of Dicang(ST 4)to Jiache(ST 6)

etc.

and moderate manipulation of needles in the resting stage("Qiang-tong"

stronger dredging)

and by oblique-penetrative puncture of Dicang(ST 4)to Jiache(ST 6)

etc.

and reinforcing needling manipulation in the recovery stage("Bu-tong"

tonifying dredging).The patients of the control group were treated by"Jingjin"(musculotendon)puncture of the same acupoints.The treatment was conducted once daily

5times per week for 6weeks.The 0-3-grade scores of therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the severity of the patients' symptoms and signs(including forehead stripes

palpebral fissure

nasolabial groove

drooping of the mouth angle

bulging cheek-air leak

food residue

dysgeusis

hyperacusi

lacrimation

and orbicularis oculi reflex).The therapeutic effect index=(score of pre-treatment-score of post-treatment)/score of pre-treatment x100%.The patients' life quality scores were assessed by using the World Health Organization Quality of Life(WHOQOL)-BREF questionnaire.Results After the treatment

the scores of clinical symptoms and signs were significantly decreased in both control and Santong needling groups in comparison with pre-treatment in the same one group(P<0.05)

suggesting an improvement of facial nerve function after 6weeks' treatment.Of the two 30 patients in the control group and Santong needling group

11(36.7%)and 15(50.0%)were cured

8(26.7%)and 9(30.0%)experienced marked improvement

5(16.6%)and 4(13.3%)were effective

and 6(20.0%)and 2(6.7%)invalid

with the effective rates being 80.0% and 93.3%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of Santong needling group was evidently superior to that of the control group(P<0.05).Three-months' follow up showed that the WHOQOL-BREF scores were comparable between pre-and post-treatment in the same one group and between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Santong needling by stages is effective in improving clinical symptoms and signs of patients with moderate and severe peripheral facial paralysis.