BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health and socioeconomic problem that affects all societies. Consciousness disorder is a common complication after TBI while there is still no effective treatment currently. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on cognitive recovery for patients with mild TBI. METHODS: A total of 83 patients with initial Glasgow coma scale score higher than 12 points were assigned into this study. Then patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: EA group and control group (group C). Patients in group EA received EA treatment at Neiguan and Shuigou for 2 weeks. At 0 minute before EA treatment (T1), 0 minute after EA treatment (T2), and 8 weeks after EA treatment (T3), level of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), and malondialdehyde were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The score of Montreal Cognitive Function Assessment (MoCA) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) as well as cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) were detected at the same time. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline at T1, the level of NSE, GFAP, HIF-1alpha, MDA, and rSO2 decreased, and the score of MoCA and MMSE increased in the 2 groups were significantly increased at T2 to 3 (p < 0.05). Compared with group C, the level of NSE, GFAP, HIF-1alpha, MDA, and rSO2 decreased, and the score of MoCA and MMSE increased were significantly increased at T2 to 3 in group EA; the difference were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA treatment could improve the cognitive recovery for patients with mild TBI and the potential mechanism may be related to improving cerebral hypoxia and alleviating brain injury.

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