Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether laser acupuncture therapy could relieve symptoms in patients with traumatic facial paralysis. Methods: This study was retrospective study including 174 patients that undergoing traumatic facial paralysis. All the patients received laser acupuncture (LA). Patients were assigned to the LA 1 month group, LA 3 month group and LA 6 month group, with 58 patients in each group. Clinical outcome measure comprised the House-Brackmann grading system, Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE), Sunnybrook facial grading scale (SBFG), Facial Disability Index (FDI), electroneuronography (ENoG), electromyography (EMG) and Blink reflex
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
174
Laser probe directly contacts with skin of the all the acupoints. The probe was fixed on each point for 1 min. In this study, the laser acupuncture used have wavelength of 808 nm and 905nm, 1.2 W power (808nm is 1 W, 905 nm is 200 mW), continuous mode emission (808 nm) and pulsed mode emission (905 nm)
China Beijing TongRen Hospital, Capital Medical University Beijing, China
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
House Brackmann Grading System (HB)
The HB is a physician-rated system based on criteria of resting appearance, facial movements, and synkinesis that categorizes facial function from I (normal) to VI (total paralysis), with options of "Normal", "Mild dysfunction", "Moderate dysfunction", "Moderately severe dysfunction",", "Severe dysfunction" or "Total paralysis". The prognoses of grade 3 or higher were abnormal.
Time frame: Baseline, month 3, 6 and 12
Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale (SB Grading)
The Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale was used because of its international recognition and because it allowed a separate classification of the degree of synkinesis. The SB Grading is divided into three subscales of resting symmetry (Eye and Mouth range from 0 to 1, Cheek ranges from 0 to 2), symmetry of voluntary movement (ranges from 1 to 5), and synkinesis (ranges from 0 to 3). The three subscores are used to calculate a composite score (ranges from 0 to 100).
Time frame: Baseline, month 3, 6 and 12
Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE Scale)
FaCE is 15-items, self-reported questionnaire that used to assess facial impairment and disability after facial paralysis. It includes six independent domains: social function, facial movement, facial comfort, oral function, eye comfort, and lacrimal control. the total scores range from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).
Time frame: Baseline, month 3, 6 and 12
Electroneuronography (ENoG)
The goal of the Electroneurography (ENoG) testing is to measure the amount of neural degradation that has occurred distal to the site of facial nerve injury by measuring the muscle response to an electrical stimulus. The testing of ENoG involves recording the compound muscle action potential (CAMP) of the mimetic muscles, including Orbicularis oculi and Orbicularis oris muscle. ENoG is performed first on the healthy side of the face and then on the affected side. Nerve damage or nerve fiber degeneration leads to a decrease or loss of the CAMP. The amplitude of the CAMP on the affected side is compared to the CAMP of the healthy side and expressed as percent (amplitude of the paralyzed side divided by the amplitude of the normal side). A side difference of 30% or bigger is considered pathologic.
Time frame: Baseline, month 3, 6 and 12
Electromyography (EMG)
EMG is an electrophysiologic measures that indirectly quantify facial nerve function by recording motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) in the muscle of Frontalis muscle. MUAPs are the spikes in electrical activity generated when a motor unit fires. A motor unit consists of a motor neuron and the corresponding muscle fibers innervated by the neuron.
Time frame: Baseline, month 3, 6 and 12
Blink Reflex
The blink reflex test is to measures the facial nerve since the blink reflex delivers information on facial nerve function with normal trigeminal function. Blink reflex testing involves electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve on the affected side combined with a 2-channel simultaneous sEMG recording from both orbicularis oculi muscles. The exit of the supraorbital nerve in the supraorbital foramen is palpated on the rim of the orbit. Stimulation with 10-20 mA and 0.2 ms duration is used to produce a constant reflex. In blink reflex testing, two responses, R1 and R2, are analyzed. R1 is the fast ipsilateral response of the orbicularis oculi muscle with a latency of about 10-12 ms. The second bilateral response R2 has a latency of about 30-41 ms. The R2 latency differences between both sides higher than 5-8 ms is considered pathologic.
Time frame: Baseline, month 3, 6 and 12
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