PMC10400715_01
MRI without contrast showed ischemic stroke. The arrows indicated lesion of malacic at the left thalamus. (A) Saggital T1WI. (B) Axial T2 FLAIR. (C) 3D SWAN. (D) Axial T2WI.
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F1
Multiple white matter lesions in bilateral periventricular and subcortical white matter were observed, and Fazekas 3 was considered (Figure 1).
The selected acupoints for the first acupuncture treatment. (A) Acupoints were used on the cheek of left side. (B) Acupoints were selected on the right cheek.
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F2
After the first treatment with cheek acupuncture (Figure 2), the patient experienced significant relaxation on the right side of her body and a 60% reduction in spontaneous pain.
PMC10400715_02
The cheek acupuncture reduced the thickness of the piriformis muscle. On day 7 after the first acupuncture session, an ultrasound was performed to measure the thickness of the piriformis muscle of the hip before and after the second session of treatment. (A) The piriformis muscle in the left hip (healthy) was 1.18 cm. (B) Before the second session of acupuncture, the thickness of the piriformis muscle in the right hip (injured) was 2.05 cm. (C) The selected acupoints for acupuncture treatment. (D) The piriformis muscle in the right hip (injured) decreased to 1.31 cm post-second treatment.
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F3
The ultrasound probe was placed between the sacrum and the greater trochanter of the femur, where two layers of muscles, the gluteus maximus and piriformis muscles, were observed (Figure 3A). Color Doppler was used to determine the position of the inferior gluteal artery, next to which the thickness of the piriformis muscle was measured as 1.18 cm (left side, non-injured) and 2.05 cm (right side, injured) (Figures 3A, B), respectively. Then, cheek acupuncture treatment was performed for 30 mins (Figure 3C). Ultrasound showed the thickness of the piriformis muscle in right side decreased to 1.31 cm (Figure 3D).