Korea
Introduction:
Facial Nerve Paralysis can cause a incurable stigma to patients though it can be treated by combined treatments of acupuncture and Western medicine.
Aim:
To analyze clinical prognosis factors and verify the effects of electro-diagnostic tests
Methods:
378 subjects were selected among 987 hospitalized-patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. They were treated by Oriental-Western medicine treatments which included acupuncture, herb drug, medicines, physical therapy during two weeks after onset and three weeks at least after that. Electro-diagnostic test was assessed 7 to 10 days after onset. Prognosis factors were analyzed using House-Brackmann grading system(HBGS) and collected data.
Results:
1. Clinical prognosis factors differ significantly(p<0.05) depending upon gender, age, types of facial palsy, symptoms of retro-auricular pain and labyrinth, onset of recovery time, and grades of HBGS.
2. Generally, 77.2% were completely recovered while 22.8% had sequelae such as synkinesis, facial contracture, facial spasm, crocodile tears and scheroma in order of frequency.
3. Electro-diagnostic tests were significant (p<0.01) to predict the final effects of treatment.
Conclusion:
Clinical factors and electro-diagnostic tests were significant in predicting the prognosis for Bell’s palsy.