Abstract:AIM: To explore the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of refractory blepharospasm.
METHODS:Prospective study. Patients diagnosed with refractory blepharospasm in the hospital from January 2022 to January 2025 were randomly divided into two groups. The control group received botulinum toxin type A injection alone, while the thunder-fire moxibustion group received thunder-fire moxibustion prior to the botulinum toxin type A injection,with the control group as the baseline intervention. The clinical efficacy, blepharospasm severity before and after treatment, disability degree \〖blepharospasm disability index(BSDI)score\〗, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS:Sixty patients(120 eyes)with refractory blepharospasm were enrolled. The thunder-fire moxibustion group consisted of 30 patients, including 13 males and 17 females, with a mean age of 62.39±6.82 y. The control group consisted of 30 patients, including 12 males and 18 females, with a mean age of 62.72±6.95 y. The total effective rate was 93%(28/30)in the thunder-fire moxibustion group, which was significantly higher than 70%(21/30)in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment, the severity and frequency grade of blepharospasm in the thunder-fire moxibustion group were significantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05). The BSDI scores in both groups decreased after treatment, with a significantly greater reduction in the thunder-fire moxibustion group(both P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was similar between the two groups(P>0.05).
CONCLUSION: The combination of thunder-fire moxibustion and botulinum toxin type A can significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy for refractory blepharospasm, effectively alleviate the severity of symptoms and degree of disability.
