Clinical Study on Acupuncture at Pterygopalatine Ganglion to Treat Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Assisted by 3D Printing Technology

OBJECTIVE To discuss clinical effect of acupuncture at pterygopalatine ganglion to treat eustachian tube dysfunction. METHODS 60 outpatients (78 ears) with secretory otitis media in Otolaryngology Department of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine were divided into the control group (30 cases) and the treatment group (30 cases)， given Sinupret Drops and acupuncture at pterygopalatine ganglion with the assist of 3D printing technology respectively. The course was four weeks. The clinical effect was evaluated from eustachian tube function questionaire (ETDQ-7)， pure tone audiometry and acoustic impedance inspection. RESULTS After treatment， both groups' ETDQ-7 scores decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with those of control group， ETDQ-7 score， pure tone audiometry and acoustic impedance inspection of the treatment group were better (P<0.01). The effective rate of the treatment group was 92.5%， higher than that of the control group (71.2%) and its long-term follow-up efficacy was 87.5%， better than that of the control group (55.2%). CONCLUSION Acupuncture at pterygopalatine ganglion with the assist of 3D printing technology is a simple，safe and effective operation.