Objective To summarize the acupoints use rules of acupuncture for the treatment of sudden deafness based on data mining and complex network analysis techniques. Methods Literature related to acupuncture for the treatment of sudden deafness through retrieving China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and the prescriptions database of acupuncture for the treatment of sudden deafness was established. The Microsoft Excel 2021 software was employed to perform descriptive statistical analysis on acupoints number, meridians, specific acupoints. The SPSS Modeler 18.0 software was used to perform association rule analysis, and the Gephi v0.9.2 network analysis software was employed to perform complex network topology analysis and core node analysis. Results A total of 112 literature was screened and enrolled, concerning 176 prescriptions of acupoints selection and 93 acupoints. The high⁃frequency acupoints were Tinggong (SI19), Yifeng (TE17), and Tinghui (G2), etc. The number of acupoints involved in gallbladder meridian of foot⁃Shaoyang was the highest (15 acupoints), and the total frequency of acupoints involved in triple energizer meridian of hand⁃Shaoyang was the highest (437 times). Among 93 acupoints, 77 acupoints belonged to specific acupoints, of which the number of acupoints in the five⁃shu point was the highest (27 acupoints), and the total frequency was also the highest (469 times). The association rule analysis obtained 11 association rules, among which “Yifeng⁃Xiaxi” exerted the highest support degree, and Tinggong (SI19), Yifeng (TE17), and Tinghui (G2), etc., were the core acupoints. The complex network topology analysis suggested that there was more compatibility among acupoints, and 26 core acupoints were obtained from core node analysis, except for basic acupoints selection such as Tinggong (SI19), Yifeng (TE17), and Tinghui (G2), also containing acupoints such as Zusanli (S36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR3), Waiguan (TE5), and Taixi (K3). Conclusion Acupuncture for the treatment of sudden deafness regards Tinggong (SI19) Yifeng (TE17), Tinghui (G2) as basic acupoints selection, focusing on selecting acupoint along meridians and selecting remote acupoints, supplemented by acupoints compatibility based on syndrome differentiation, and the therapeutic effect is obvious.

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