Objective To observe the effects of eye acupuncture on motor evoked potential(MEP) and somatosensory evoked potential(SEP) in the patients with incomplete spinal cord injury so as to evaluate its clinical efficacy. Methods According to the random number table

90 patients were divided into exercise therapy group

eye acupuncture group and eye acupuncture combined exercise therapy group(combined treatment group)

30 cases in each. In the exercise therapy group

patients were treated with the routine exercise and occupational therapy. Patients of the eye acupuncture group were treated with eye acupuncture at upper jiao region

lower jiao region

liver region and kidney region bilaterally. Patients of the combined treatment group were given the routine exercise and occupational therapy combined with eye acupuncture. All the treatments were conducted once daily

7 days as one treatment course for 4 treatment courses. Before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment

the motor function

light touch sensation and pinprick sensation

injury grade and clinical efficacy were assessed separately

using the criteria developed by the American Spinal Injury Association. The modified Barthel index(MBI) was adopted to evaluate the activities of daily livings. By monitoring SEP and MEP

the neurophysiological conditions were assessed for spinal cord injury. Results The total effective rate was 56.7%(17/30)

66.7%(20/30) and 90.0%(27/30) in the exercise therapy group

the eye acupuncture group and the combined treatment group

respectively. The total effective rate in the combined treatment group was higher than those in the other two groups(P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment

the scores of motor function

light tough sensation and pinprick sensation were all increased after treatment in three groups(P<0.05)

MBI score was increased in both the exercise therapy group and the combined treatment group(P<0.05)

and the latency of SEP(N11

N20

N23

P38) and the Cortical(hand region)

Csp

Cortical(leg region) and Lsp of MEP were all shortened in the three groups separately(P<0.05). After treatment

compared with the exercise therapy group

the score of motor function was increased(P<0.05)

MBI score decreased(P<0.05) and MEP latency shortened(P<0.05) in the eye acupuncture group. After treatment

compared with the exercise therapy group and the eye acupuncture group

the scores of motor function

light touch sensation and pinprick sensation

as well as MBI score were all increased(P<0.05)

and the latency of SEP(N11

N20

N23

P38) and MEP shortened(P<0.05) in the combined treatment group. Conclusion In treatment of incomplete spinal cord injury

eye acupuncture combined with exercise therapy can significantly increase the excitability of sensory and motor nerve conduction in the spinal cord and cerebral cortex of patients

effectively promote the recovery of patients' motor and sensory function and improve the activities of daily living.