• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2023

This study individually analyzed the effects of Korean Facial Chuna Manual Treatment (K-FCMT) combined with Korean medicine (KM) treatment (acupuncture, electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine) on five patients with acute Bell's palsy who visited Dongsuwon Korean Medicine Hospital between August 1 and 31, 2022. During inpatient treatment, two of the five patients received K-FCMT 5-6 times a week, and the other three received the same frequency during outpatient treatment for approximately 2 weeks. Patients with a House-Brackmann grading scale (HBGS) score of ≤4 and Yanagihara unweighted grading system (Y-score) ≥7-8 began to recover after the 2nd-3rd sessions of K-FCMT, which entered the recovery phase quickly. As patients entered the recovery phase (7-9th sessions of K-FCMT), symptoms improved to HBGS scores of 1-2 and Y-scores of 35-40 points. This study suggests the possibility of applying K-FCMT combined with KM treatment to patients in the acute stage of Bell's palsy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.347-351
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• 2015

This study examines a clinical progress of treatment for the sequelae of facial palsy through Jung-ahn acupuncture. The patient in this case was diagnosed with facial paralysis a few years ago. The patient was treated with Korean medicine and Western medicine, but was given up without improvement. The paretic symptom was found out in left side of the face. Also facial spasm and epiphora caused by blepharoptosis were existed. The patient got 8 times Jung-ahn acupuncture treatment from September 18th, 2014 to September 26th, 2014. House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system(H-B scale) was implemented. On the first time of the treatment, H-B scale was Grade Ⅴ and facial nerve grading was 2/8. Facial spasm and epiphora caused by blepharoptosis in lower eyelid were appeared on facial expressions and conversation. After total 8 treatments(therapies), H-B scale was Grade Ⅲ and facial nerve grading was 5/8. The symptoms of facial paralysis and blepharoptosis were improved. Jung-ahn acupuncture is estimated to be effective in facial palsy sequela. More cases are required to develop treatment of facial palsy sequela.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.149-158
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of anxiety and depression on motor recovery of acute Bell's palsy to estimate how much psychological factors affect the clinical prognosis. Methods : A total of 20 inpatients with acute unilateral Bell's palsy within 1 week of onset participated in this study. The severity of participants' facial palsy was measured by Yanagihara(Y-system) score, FDI and House-Brackmann scale at the time of 1 week and 3 weeks from the onset. The motor recovery of acute Bell's palsy is defined as ${\Delta}Y$-system during 2 weeks. Beck anxiety scale(BAI) and the center for epidermiologic studies depression scale(CES-D) were adopted to assess anxiety and depression, respectively. Correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were conducted between ${\Delta}Y$-system and prognostic factors including anxiety and depression. Results : Significant associations were found between ${\Delta}Y$-system and depression(CES-D) but no significant associations were found between ${\Delta}Y$-system and other prognostic factors, hypertension, diabetes, postauricular pain, disgeusia, age, degree of initial palsy and anxiety(BAI). And a regression equation with 0.295 for coefficient of determination was obtained. Through this analysis, the ${\Delta}Y$-system can be predicted using regression equation which cover 29.5 % of depression index(CES-D). Conclusion : Depression is a significant clinical prognostic factor on motor recovery of acute Bell's palsy. So, Bell's palsy treatment should be combined with psychological care and support.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.175-187
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of facial rejuvenation acupuncture on cases of sequela of facial nerve palsy. Methods : This study was carried out in respect of 5 cases of sequela of facial nerve palsy patients which had been treated in Dong-Shin university oriental hospital from 2009 year with House-Brackmann grading system(HBGS) above Grade IV. In this study the patients were treated by facial rejuvenation acupuncture. The effect of the treatment were evaluated via scales and picture. Results : After treatment with facial rejuvenation acupuncture, 5 patients improved H-B scale and symptoms of the sequela of facial nerve palsy. The average of H-B scale was increased from 3.2 to 6.4. There also formed forehead folds, better blinking of the eyes and improved asymmetry of the left and right face. Conclusions : In the study, facial rejuvenation acupuncture showed marked improvement in sequela of facial nerve palsy. Randomized-controlled trial for further evaluation will be needed in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.218-231
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• 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 Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this case is to report the improvement of two patients diagnosed with eight and a half syndrome after combination therapy of oriental and western medicine. Methods : We treated the patients with combination therapy of oriental and western medicine such as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medication, antithrombotic agents and steroid therapy. Changes of peripheral facial paralysis were evaluated using House-Brackmann facial grading system and the degree of dizziness, tenderness and pain of upper abdomen were assessed using numerous rating scale. Changes in motor grade of upper and lower extremities were evaluated using medical research council scale. Results : We have recently experienced two cases of eight and a half syndrome - a syndrome characterized by the coexistence of one and a half syndrome, a rare ophthalmoparetic syndrome characterized by a conjugate horizontal gaze palsy in one direction and an internuclear ophthalmoplegia in the other, and cranial nerve VII palsy. The one and a half syndrome was caused by acute cerebral infarction. Two patients in this report were improved through combination therapy of oriental and western medicine. Conclusions : We report the clinical course and treatment methods of eight and a half syndrome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.633-641
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• 2022

Introduction In chronic facial palsy, synkinetic muscle overactivity and shortening causes muscle stiffness resulting in reduced movement and functional activity. This article studies the role of multimodal therapy in improving outcomes. Methods Seventy-five facial palsy patients completed facial rehabilitation before being successfully discharged by the facial therapy team. The cohort was divided into four subgroups depending on the time of initial attendance post-onset. The requirement for facial therapy, chemodenervation, or surgery was assessed with East Grinstead Grade of Stiffness (EGGS). Outcomes were measured using the Facial Grading Scale (FGS), Facial Disability Index, House-Brackmann scores, and the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation scale. Results FGS composite scores significantly improved posttherapy (mean-standard deviation, 60.13 ± 23.24 vs. 79.9 ± 13.01; confidence interval, -24.51 to -14.66, p < 0.0001). Analysis of FGS subsets showed that synkinesis also reduced significantly (p < 0.0001). Increasingly, late clinical presentations were associated with patients requiring longer durations of chemodenervation treatment (p < 0.01), more chemodenervation episodes (p < 0.01), increased doses of botulinum toxin (p < 0.001), and having higher EGGS score (p < 0.001). Conclusions This study shows that multimodal facial rehabilitation in the management of facial palsy is effective, even in patients with chronically neglected synkinesis. In terms of the latency periods between facial palsy onset and treatment initiation, patients presenting later than 2 years were still responsive to multimodal treatment albeit to a lesser extent, which we postulate is due to increasing muscle contracture within their facial muscles.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2024

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between clinical assessment scales, self-assessment scales, and surface electromyography (SEMG) for facial nerve palsy. Methods: This study assessed 32 cases of facial nerve palsy on the first visit, 11 cases on the second visit, and 9 cases on the third visit to the Korean medicine hospital, university. This study was conducted from October 22, 2022, to December 22, 2022. The patients were evaluated using SEMG, clinical assessment scales, and self-assessment scales 3 times. The House-Brackmann grading systems (HBGS), Yanagihara unweighted grading system (Y-score), facial disability index, numerous rating scale, and accompanying symptoms of facial nerve palsy were used for assessment. Moreover, statistical correlation was analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results: On Visit 1, Significant correlations were observed between the results of SEMG and other clinical assessment scales as well as between SEMG-F (frontalis) and different parts of the Y-score. On Visit 2, significant correlations were observed between the results of SEMG and HBGS as well as between SEMG-F and the detailed parts of the Y-score. On Visit 3, significant correlations were observed only between SEMG-F and the detailed parts of the Y-score. A significant correlation was also observed between the changes in the clinical assessment scales on Visits 1 and 3 and between the changes in SEMG-F and those in the patient self-assessment scales. Conclusion: These findings suggest that SEMG can be used to evaluate facial nerve palsy in conjunction with the use of other clinical assessment scales.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.189-197
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was performed in order to investigate the effectiveness of electromyography and the Heart Rate Variability(HRV) test as prognosis factors, and to clarify correlation between Electromyography and the Heart Rate Variability test. Methods : 44 Bell's palsy patients who were graded V on the House-Brackmann scale and underwent HRV and EMG testing were retrospectively reviewed based on medical records. Results from both tests were analyzed via simple linear regression, and bivariate correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between results from the two tests. The severity of the facial palsy at onset and at 2 weeks after treatment were evaluated with the H-B grade and Yanagihara grading system, and was converted into improvement scores. Results : Mean axonal loss according to electromyography showed a statistically significant correlation in predicting peripheral facial palsy improvement(p<0.01). HR, SDNN, TP, LF, HF, VLF, and LF/HF ratio on the Heart Rate Variability test showed no significant correlation in predicting peripheral facial palsy improvement. Mean axonal loss determined by electromyography, and HR, SDNN, TP, LF, HF, VLF, and LF/HF ratio recorded with the Heart Rate Variability test was analyzed with the bivariate correlation analysis method. Mean axonal loss and SDNN showed a statistically significant correlation(p<0.01) Conclusions : The Heart Rate Variability test has no statistical significance in predicting peripheral facial palsy improvement. SDNN has a statistically significant correlation with mean axonal loss as determined by electromyography.

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