A prospective randomised controlled study on efficacies of acupuncture and steroid in treatment of idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

A randomised controlled trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in comparison with steroid in treatment of idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis (Bell's palsy).

METHODS:

A total of 119 patients attending Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital from February 2003 to December 2005 were randomly allocated to groups of acupuncture, steroid and control (conventional expectant treatment). There were 53 in the steroid group, 28 in the acupuncture group and 38 in the control group. Patients were assessed weekly by blinded assessors, using the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system.

RESULTS:

The efficacy of treatment in three groups was compared, in terms of degree of recovery and speed of recovery. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed. Results were analysed with SPSS software. Distribution of initial grade on presentation was analysed with the Pearson chi-square test and showed uneven distribution in the three groups in the intention-to-treat analysis. The overall improvement (grade 3 or better) was 86.9% in the steroid group, 96.4% in the acupuncture group and 89.5% in the control group respectively. However, the difference in degree of recovery and speed of recovery in the three groups was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION:

The efficacies of acupuncture, steroid and conventional expectant treatment (natural course of recovery) in idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (Bell's palsy) in the study were the same with respect to the degree of recovery and speed of recovery.

• Authors: Fu Man Tong, Shun Kit Chow, Patrick Yiu Bong Chan, Alex Kam Wah Wong, Sambo Shuk Ying Wan, Rebecca Ka Wah Ng, Geoffrey Chan, Wing Shan Chan, Angela Ng, Chi Keung Law
• Journal: Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (Acupunct Med) Vol. 27 Issue 4 Pg. 169-73 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1759-9873 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19942723 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids

Topics

• Acupuncture Therapy (methods)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Analysis of Variance
• Bell Palsy (therapy)
• Facial Nerve
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult