• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.5-10
• /
• 2007

Background: Bell's palsy (BP) is a self-limited rapid onset facial palsy that is non-life-threatening and has a generally favorable prognosis. Facial paralysis can be caused by numerous conditions, all of which should be excluded before the diagnosis of BP is reached. The etiopathogenesis and clinical course of BP are uncertain. So we analyzed the epidemiology and clinical course of BP patients. Methods: The subjects include 100 cases of BP examined during the period of 18 months. Careful clinical history, neurologic examinations, laboratory tests, electrophysiologic studies, and brain imaging were performed. Follow-up examinations were done once a week during the first month and subsequently once a month until normal function was restored or for up to 3 months. Facial nerve function was assessed by House-Brackman (HB) facial nerve grading scale and electrophysiologic studies. Results: Except 13 recurrent BP patients, we analyzed 87 BP patients. Forty-four (50.6%) were men and 43(49.4%) were women and the mean age was 51.0(${\pm}16.6$) years. Three (3.4%) patients showed a familial tendency. The initial examination within 1 week after attack revealed 35.2% was below HB grade 4 and 64.8% was above grade 3. The associated symptoms are as follows; postauricular pain, increase tear flow, taste change, hyperacusis and drooling. The initial facial nerve conduction study and blink reflex within 1 week after attack showed abnormal findings in 12.6% and 100%, respectively. Brain MRI was performed in 59(67.8%) patients and showed abnormal enhancement of affected nerve in 57(96.6%). Follow-up examination showed that 78.2% of the patients partially improved within 4 weeks and completely improved within 3 months. Finally 80.5% of the total patients obtained normal function in 3 months. Conclusions: We report epidemiologic, clinical, electrophysiologic and radiologic characteristics of BP patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2021

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effectiveness of thread-embedding therapy for the treatment of acute phase of Bell's palsy. Methods : Thread-embedding therapy was performed once a week on 29 patients within 1 weeks after the onset. We investigated the general characters, Yanagihara's score, House-Brackmann scale and FDI were used to evaluate the effectiveness of thread-embedding therapy. Results : Facial muscle recovery began at 13.37th day, that was about 0.36 day earlier than the previous patients who were treated without thread-embedding therapy in 2017 at the same hospital, but there was no statistical significance. In the change of each scale before and after treatment, Yanagihara's score, House-Brackmann scale, physical function and social function of FDI were changed significantly. Compared with the patients treated without thread-embedding therapy in 2017, Yanagihara's score was a little higher and House-Brackmann scale was a little lower. Conclusions : These findings suggested that thread-embedding therapy on acute phase of Bell's palsy was a little more effective than the conventional therapy without thread-embedding therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.87-101
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Many acupuncture points have been suggested for the treatment of Bell's palsy, but information on which acupuncture points are more important in treatment is not provided. This study was conducted to investigate the importance of acupuncture points currently used clinically in Bell's palsy. Methods: By reviewing the full text of 11 books that recorded acupuncture prescriptions from the Qin Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, the frequency of use of acupuncture points, their meridians, and their location were investigated. Results: The average number of acupuncture points used for local, adjacent and distal points selection was 10.5, 2, 4 respectively. The number of acupuncture points increased from the Qin Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty 《Bojaebang》 and then decreased, but the proportion of local points has been still high. From the Ming Dynasty, ST4, ST6, GV26, and GV24 were mainly have been used as the local points. Except for the GB12, the use of the rest of the acupuncture points gradually decreased in the adjacent points. In the distal acupuncture points, it was summarized to point of lung and large intestine channel until the Ming Dynasty, and LI4 was mainly used in the Qing Dynasty. Yangming meridian has been most often used at the local and distal area except for the adjacent area. Conclusions: In the treatment of facial paralysis, the lower part of the face had the highest proportion among local acupuncture points, and the Yangming had the highest proportion by meridian.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.190-199
• /
• 2000

We had studied the relationship between the difference of average temperature of Meridian points of left and right face taken by DITI on 1st hospital day and the improvement degree of facial mucles on the patients of Bell's palsy after 10 days treatment. The clinical data and thermographic imaging were analyzed on the 42 cases of Bell's palsy who were treated in the Chunju Oriental Medicine Hospital of Wonkwang University from May to November 1999, and we selected 29 cases within 10 day-onset and the following results were obtained. 1. Assuming the difference of the muscle scores' sums very attending day from after 10 days treatment is improvement degree, and presuming the improvement degree is y, and the mean difference of average temperature between normal and abnormal facial side is x, we can infer the equation of the first degree as following [ y = 2.62 + 2.16 x ]. 2. This means that the higher temperature of nerve falsy side than normal side, the better consequence of treatment we can obtain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.57-68
• /
• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between patients' characteristics and the beginning period of improvement, as well as contribute to the efficient management of Bell's palsy patients. Methods : The subjects were 94 patients with Bell's palsy. This study was carried out through the use of an administrative database that included patients' characteristics and clinical information. The analysis of the beginning period of improvement by gender, hypertension, diabetes, drinking history, smoking history and facial palsy history was conducted by independent sample t-test. The analysis of the beginning period of improvement by age, House-Brackmann grade, Yanagihara scale and period receiving Korean medical treatment was conducted by Pearson's correlation analysis. Further analysis of the beginning period of improvement by associated symptoms and seasons was conducted by one-way analysis of variance. Results : 1. Significant correlations were not found between the beginning period of improvement and gender, age, season, smoking history, drinking history, facial palsy history, House-Brackmann grade, Yanagihara scale, hypertension, diabetes or associated symptoms. 2. There was significant correlation between the period of receiving Korean medical treatment and the beginning period of improvement. Conclusion : In this study, the earlier that patients received korean medicine treatment after onset, the earlier that the beginning period of improvement could be seen. Therefore, for the efficient management of facial paralysis patients, it is expected to help secure a baseline.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2011

Objectives : Bell's palsy is the most common acute facial paralysis but its causes still unclear. At present, one of the most widely accepted cause is viral infections, and generally socioeconomic factors influence the viral infections. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of incidence of facial palsy with socioeconomic factors. Methods : Seventeen patients with a acute facial palsy, who volunteered and completed all of the assessment measures participated. Using data on 17 participants, we examined the independent contribution of education, income, and occupation to a risk factor of severe facial palsy. Severity of global facial impairment was assessed by the facial disability index (FDI), the house-brackmann facial nerve grading system, WHO quality of life - bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and visual analogue scale (VAS) about discomfort of life. Results : There was no correlation between severity of facial palsy and gender, marriage, education, or occupation. Age greater than 60 years (p<0.05), and low monthly income(p<0.05), poor self-rated health was associated with greater severity of idiopathic facial paralysis. Conclusions : The number of subjects with facial palsy in our study (n-17) was small, and therefore generalization to larger patient populations might be unwarranted. But according to the outcome, we suggest that socioeconomic factors, especially low monthly income influence severity of bell's palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of cervical Chuna treatment for Bell's palsy. Methods : We investigated 30 patients with Bell's palsy who had visited at Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, of Korean Medicine Hospital Dong-Eui University from June $1_{st}$, 2013 to April $15_{th}$, 2014. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups. Group A(experimental group) was treated by Korean-Western combination treatment with Cervical Chuna treatment and group B(control group) was treated by Korean-Western combination treatment without it. The cervical Chuna treatment was done twice a week, for a total of 8 times. We evaluated the change of each group by using Yanagihara's unweighed grading system. Results : Yanagihara's score in group A was significantly improved during each period from the first visit to four weeks later. However, Yanagihara's score in group B was significantly improved except during first week. The improvement of Yanagihara's score in group A is higher than group B during every period. And significant differences were shown after two weeks from the first visit between the two groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that cervical Chuna treatment may be effective for Bell's palsy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.218-231
• /
• 2016

Objectives : To report the patient bilateral facial palsy, because it is unusual. Methods : One patient with bilateral facial palsy was selected. Herbal medicine(Cheunggansoyosan, bubidongyeom-2) was administered and acupuncture was applied for twice a day in 73 days. Facial function was evaluated by House-Brackmann scale, Yanagihara's scale and Standardization of muscular paralysis. Results : Cheunggansoyosan, bubidongyeom-2 and acupuncture treatment improved facial function after 73 days of treatment. Adverse effects were not reported. Conclusions : This study shows that the Korean medicine treatment was effective in improving bilateral facial palsy.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.133-138
• /
• 2004

1. Objectives Facial Palsy(Bell's palsy) is a common disease in oriental medicine. In Sasang Constitutional Medicine, Taeumin have a basic condition by Ganyeol as their inherent symptomatic phamacology. This case is a study about Taeumin's facial palsy in Ganyeol conditions. 2. Methods In treatment of facial palsy, especially in acute stage, We prescribe Yeoldahanso-tang(熱多寒少湯) when a patient with facial palsy is diagnosed as Taeumin by their own characters. 3. Conclusions This case-study shows an efficient results by using Yeoldahanso-tang(熱多寒少湯) in treatment of facial palsy compared with other known treatments.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2011

Bell's palsy is an isolated facial paralysis of sudden onset caused by a neuritis of the seventh nerve within the facial canal. It occurs often in the adult man with a history of recent exposure to local cold, such as sleeping next to an open window, or in some cases it occurs after infections of the nasopharynx or masticator spaces. Especially, this neuropathy have linked with the major collagen disorders (diabetes mellitus). A segmental demyelination develops rapidly, with vascultitis in microinfarcts and ischemia to the nerve segment. The authors experienced about the bizarre neurological symptom of Bell's palsy after inferior alveolar nerve block anesthesia and TMJ dislocation in diabetic mellitus. The early and correct consultation with the multiple medical and dental departments was important to prevent the inadequate care & medicolegal problems.