Objective

2

To compare the clinical effect on Bell's facial palsy in the acute stage between the staging comprehensive treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion and western medication.

Methods

2

Sixty patients with Bell's facial palsy in the acute stage were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group

with 30 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were administered orally with prednisone acetate tablets and methylcobalamin tablets until the 28th day of illness. In the observation group

the staging comprehensive treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion was adopted. On the affected side

Qianzheng (EX-HN 16)

Yifeng (TE 17)

Sibai (ST 2)

Yangbai (GB 14)

Jiache (ST 6)

Dicang (ST 4) and Touwei (ST 8)

etc. were stimulated. In the acute stage (Day 1 to 7 of illness)

the routine acupuncture and the point-toward-point needle insertion were delivered

no any manipulation was exerted at acupoints

and the needles were retained for 30 min. In the subacute stage (Day 8 to 14 of illness)

on the base of the treatment as the acute stage

the depth of needle insertion was adjusted at a part of acupoints and the even needling technique was operated by twisting needle. Besides

electroacupuncture (EA) was attached to Qianzheng (EX-HN 16) and Dicang (ST 4)

with continuous wave of low intensity and high frequency

100 Hz

for 20 min. In the recovery stage (Day 15 to 28 of illness)

on the base of the treatment as the subacute stage

the heavy stimulation of acupuncture was given

in which

the sticking and lifting needle techniques were delivered after the needles were inserted from Sibai （ST 2） toward Dicang (ST 4)

and from Dicang (ST 4) toward Jiache (ST 6)

separately; warm needling was operated at Yifeng (TE 17)

and EA changed to stimulate the acupoints with the intermittent wave of high intensity and low frequency

2 Hz

for 30 min. Acupuncture-moxibustion was given once every other day until the end of the 28th day of illness. The level of House-Brackmann facial nerve function rating scale (H-B grade)

the score of Sunnybrook facial nerve grading system (Sunnybrook)

the score of facial disability index (FDI)

the temperature difference in the infrared thermal imaging facial area and electromyogram (EMG) situation of the affected muscle group were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Using musculoskeletal ultrasound

the facial nerve diameter was detected and the clinical effect was compared between the two groups.

Results

2

After treatment

the level of H-B grade

Sunnybrook score

the scores of physical function and social life function in FDI were improved when compared with those before treatment in the patients of either group (

P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05)

and the results of these evaluations in the observation group were better than those of the control group (

P

<

0.05). After treatment

the temperature difference of the frontal area

the eye area

the zygomatic area and the mouth corner was declined in comparison with that before treatment in the two groups (

P

<

0.05)

and the temperature difference in each area in the observation group was lower than that of the control group (

P

<

0.05).The root mean square (RMS) of the frontal muscle group

the zygomatic muscle group and the orbicularis muscle group on the affected side increased in comparison with that before t

reatment in the two groups (

P

<

0.01)

and RMS of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (

P

<

0.05) after treatment. Before treatment

the diameter of the facial nerve on the affected side was larger than that on the healthy side (

P

<

0.01)

and after treatment

the diameter on the affected side was reduced when compared with that before treatment in the two groups (

P

<

0.01); the diameter of the facial nerve on the affected side in the observation group was smaller than that of the control group (

P

<

0.05)

while

the diameter on the affected side was larger when compared with the healthy side in the control group (

P

<

0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.3% (28/30)

higher than that of the control group (83.3% [25/30

]

P

<

0.05).

Conclusion

2

The staging comprehensive treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion is clearly effective on Bell's facial palsy in the acute stage

which affirms the effectiveness of acupuncture-moxibustion for the acute stage of Bell's facial palsy in comparison with conventional western medication.