• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2023

Objective : The facial nerve trace on the ipsilateral side of the vestibular schwannoma was reconstructed by diffusion tensor imaging tractography to identify the adjacent relationship between the facial nerve and the tumor, and to improve the level of intraoperative facial nerve protection. Methods : The clinical data of 30 cases of unilateral vestibular schwannoma who underwent tumor resection via retrosigmoid approach were collected between January 2019 and December 2020. All cases underwent magnetic resonance imaging examination before operation. Diffusion tensor imaging and anatomical images were used to reconstruct the facial nerve track of the affected side, so as to predict the course of the nerve and its adjacent relationship with the tumor, to compare the actual trace of the facial nerve during operation, verify the degree of coincidence, and evaluate the nerve function (House-Brackmann grade) after surgery. Results : The facial nerve of 27 out of 30 cases could be displayed by diffusion tensor imaging tractography, and the tracking rate was 90% (27/30). The intraoperative locations of facial nerve shown in 25 cases were consistent with the preoperative reconstruction results. The coincidence rate was 92.6% (25/27). The facial nerves were located on the anterior middle part of the tumor in 14 cases, anterior upper part in eight cases, anterior lower part in seven cases, and superior polar in one case. Intraoperative facial nerve anatomy was preserved in 30 cases. Among the 30 patients, total resection was performed in 28 cases and subtotal resection in two cases. The facial nerve function was evaluated 2 weeks after operation, and the results showed grade I in 12 cases, grade II in 16 cases and grade III in two cases. Conclusion : Preoperative diffusion tensor imaging tractography can clearly show the trajectory and adjacent position of the facial nerve on the side of vestibular schwannoma, which is beneficial to accurately identify and effectively protect the facial nerve during the operation, and is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-330
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to report a clinical progress of treatment of sequelae caused by removal of facial schwannoma through Korean medicine. A patient was diagnosed with facial schwannoma by MRI on 4th June 2012 in local university hospital, he had right facial palsy, auditory hypersensitivity, dizziness after removal of facial schwannoma. Between 25th July 2012 and 26th January 2013, he was treated with acupuncture, cupping, electro-acupuncture every week and observed by House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system(H-B scale) and MoReSS every month. He had 29 times treatments. At the first of treatment, his state was Grade IV (H-B scale), 4/8(facial nerve grading), 10 points during action 7 points during rest(MoReSS) and he had severe facial palsy, ill-acrimation, auditory hypersensitivity. At the middle of treatment, October 2012, symptoms improved. State was Grade III (H-B scale), 5/8(facial nerve grading), 7 points during action 3 points during rest(MoReSS). Severe facial palsy improved ; Forehead creasing and union motor function recovered, he was able to close his eyes so ill-acrimation improved. At the end of treatment, January 2012, state was Grade II (H-B scale), 7.5/8(facial nerve grading), 3 points during action 1 point during rest(MoReSS). He had only occasional tinnitus and auditory hypersensitivity. Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture are estimated to be good for facial palsy after removal of facial schwannoma. More cases are required to develop treatment of facial palsy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.288-292
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• 2012

Objective : Microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a safe and effective treatment with favorable outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of delayed cranirve (VI, VII, and VIII) palsy following MVD and its clinical courses. Methods : Between January 1998 and December 2009, 1354 patients underwent MVD for HFS at our institution. Of them, 100 patients (7.4%) experienced delayed facial palsy (DFP), one developed sixth nerve palsy, and one patient had delayed hearing loss. Results : DFP occurred between postoperative day number 2 and 23 (average 11 days). Ninety-two patients (92%) completely recovered; however, House-Brackmann grade II facial weakness remained in eight other patients (8%). The time to recovery averaged 64 days (range, 16 days to 9 months). Delayed isolated sixth nerve palsy recovered spontaneously without any medical or surgical treatment after 8 weeks, while delayed hearing loss did not improve. Conclusion : Delayed cranial nerve (VI, VII, and VIII) palsies can occur following uncomplicated MVD for HFS. DFP is not an unusual complication after MVD, and prognosis is fairly good. Delayed sixth nerve palsy and delayed hearing loss are extremely rare complications after MVD for HFS. We should consider the possibility of development of these complications during the follow up for MVD.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.240-248
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of study was to determine the effects of muscle reeducation training in patients with acute facial nerve paralysis. Methods: Thirty patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). The experimental group received muscle reeducation training for 20 minutes after electrotherapy and the control group received conventional electrotherapy for only 40 minutes. Therapeutic intervention for each group was performed four times per week for four weeks. The patients were measured for recovery of paralysis using the House-Brackmann Grading System (H-B grade), the Movement Distance of Mouth, Nasolabial Angle (NA), and Facial Disability Index (FDI). Results: In within group comparison, the experimental group showed significant improvements for all variables (p<0.01). In comparison between two groups, the experimental group showed relatively greater significant improvements for all variables (p<0.01). Conclusion: These findings suggest that muscle reeducation training is more effective than conventional therapy in improving the condition of patients with facial nerve paralysis. In particular, the results of this study indicate that muscle reeducation training can be recommended by clinicians since it provides more benefits.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.208-211
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• 2014

Recently, the increasing rates of facial nerve preservation after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery have been achieved. However, the management of a partially or completely damaged facial nerve remains an important issue. The authors report a patient who was had a good recovery after a facial nerve reconstruction using fibrin glue-coated collagen fleece for a totally transected facial nerve during VS surgery. And, we verifed the anatomical preservation and functional outcome of the facial nerve with postoperative diffusion tensor (DT) imaging facial nerve tractography, electroneurography (ENoG) and House-Brackmann (HB) grade. DT imaging tractography at the 3rd postoperative day revealed preservation of facial nerve. And facial nerve degeneration ratio was 94.1% at 7th postoperative day ENoG. At postoperative 3 months and 1 year follow-up examination with DT imaging facial nerve tractography and ENoG, good results for facial nerve function were observed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.276-283
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• 2021

The purpose of this review was to investigate acupotomy treatment for peripheral facial palsy. By reviewing recent clinical trends, this may contribute to standardizing acupotomy treatment methods. There were 7 randomized controlled trials and 6 case series using acupotomy treatment for peripheral facial palsy published between January 01, 2014 and April 05, 2021, which were retrieved from 9 online databases. The number and characteristics of participants, main treatment sites, combination treatments, size of acupotomy needle, frequency and total period of treatment, evaluation indices, efficacy, and adverse events were analyzed. "Tender point or induration," "infraorbical foramen," and "buccal mucosa" were the most used treatment sites. The sizes of acupotomy needles varied from 20 mm to 80 mm in length, and 0.35 mm to 1.0 mm in diameter. One treatment cycle was performed every 3 to 5-7 days, and the number of treatments per treatment session ranged from 3 to 5-9 cycles. The results were evaluated using 1 to 4 evaluation indices and 9 different evaluation indices were used overall. The efficacy rate was the most used index, followed by the House-Brackmann grade, and electrocardiography. The "Risk of Bias 2," categorized most studies as having "some concerns." There were few adverse events reported.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report a case of bilateral facial palsy in a patient with Guillain-Barre Syndrome after coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) vaccination. Methods : The patient diagnosed as Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Bilateral facial palsy after COVID-19 vaccination. We applied Korean medical treatment including acupuncture and herbal medicine for bilateral facial palsy. We used HBGS(House-Brackmann Grading System), VAS(Visual Analog Scale) to estimate the symptoms. Results : After the treatment, both facial palsy showed big improvement. Compared to the onset, HBGS improved by Grade 1/2 and VAS by 2. Conclusions : This case report shows effect of Korean medicine on Bilateral facial palsy and suggests a possibility of Korean medicine to treat adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2022

Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a neurological condition/disease characterized by unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles. We report the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment in 2 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy who developed symptoms 3-4 days following vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and who received oral steroids and antiviral medications. Complex Korean medicine treatments including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, cupping therapy, herbal medicine, and physical therapy were performed. Symptom improvement was evaluated daily using the Numerical Rating Scale, House-Brackmann Grade, and Yanagihara's Score. Patient 1 was hospitalized for 22 days and Patient 2 visited the outpatient clinic 20 times. In both cases, postauricular pain caused by Bell's palsy disappeared, and symptoms of facial paralysis improved following completion of treatment. These findings could suggest that combined Korean medicine treatment may improve symptoms of peripheral facial nerve palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2024

This study presents a case of facial nerve injury that occurred after parotidectomy for a benign tumor of the parotid gland that improved with integrated Korean medicine (IKM). On June 24, 2023, the patient presented with facial nerve injury based on a facial nerve conduction study after parotidectomy, with a score of five on Yanagihara's unweighted grading system (Y-system) and a grade of five on the House-Brackmann facial grading scale (H-B scale). During the 15 days of admission, IKM treatments, including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, moxibustion, herbal steam therapy, physiotherapy, herbal medicine, and thread embedding acupuncture treatment, were performed. After treatment, the strength of the orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, and masticatory muscles improved, with a Y-system score of 17 and an H-B scale of III. In conclusion, the findings of this study confirm the applicability and effectiveness of IKM in the treatment of facial paralysis following parotidectomy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.101-109
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was to compare effects of scalp acupuncture with usual acupuncture on peripheral facial palsy in comparison with usual acupuncture only. Methods : We investigated 40 cases of patients with peripheral facial palsy, and devided patients into two groups: We treated one group by scalp acupuncture with usual acupuncture and did the other group by usual acupuncture only. To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment applied for two groups, we used Gross Grading System of House-Brackmann(H-B grade), Yanagihara's Unweighed Grading System(Y system). Results : 1. In H-B grade group B(common acupuncture therapy and scalp acupuncture)'s score was reduced than group A(common acupuncture therapy), but there was no statistical significance. 2. In Y-system group B was higher than group A, but there was no statistical significance. Conclusions : There was no stastical significance between two groups : treated by scalp acupuncture with usual acupuncture and usual acupuncture therapy only, on peripheral facial palsy.