Objective To investigate the application characteristics of electroacupuncture(EA) in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy

so as to provide a basis for clinical use of EA therapy. Methods Keywords of "electroacupuncture""peripheral neuropathy" "facial paralysis" "trigeminal neuralgia" "sciatica" "common peroneal nerve injury" "diabetic peripheral neuropathy" "intercostal neuralgia" "gluteal epithelial neuritis" "ulnar nerve injury" "median nerve paralysis" "postherpetic neuralgia"

and "great occipital neuralgia" were used to search articles in both English and Chinese published from 1999 to 2019 in databases of CNKI

Wanfang

VIP

CBM

Ovid

PubMed and Embase and related books such as electroacupuncture

and neurology

followed by establishing a database of "Electroacupuncture Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy". Then

the collected articles were put into statistical analysis after sorting

screening

input

checking

and data extracting by using data mining technology and statistical software EpiData. Results Of the searched 1 528 papers

778 were eligible

involving 13 types of peripheral neuropathy which the facial paralysis and facial spasm were most frequently seen

followed by trigeminal neuralgia and sciatica

with an effective rate being above 90% for nearly all the 13 diseases. The acupoints employed were chiefly those close to the affected area and distribute along the nerve trunk. In addition

about the needling techniques

the penetration needling was frequently used

and the triple needling

quintuple needling and accompanied needling were also used. Regarding the related needle manipulations

the uniform reinforcing-reduction technique was most frequently used. The duration of EA was 30 min

with a highest stimulating frequency of 50 Hz. The acupoint injection was frequently supplemented

followed by moxibustion

and the treatment sessions were usually about 30 times. Conclusion EA therapy is frequently used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy

and has some characteristics in acupoint selection

stimulating parameters and some additional needling techniques