ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of different acupuncture frequency and duration of needle retention on idiopathic facial paralysis, and optimize the acupuncture treatment plan.@*METHODS@#A total of 140 patients were randomized into a group A (37 cases, 3 cases dropped off), a group B (35 cases, 3 cases dropped off), a group C (34 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a group D (34 cases, 1 case dropped off). Under the same basic treatment, acupuncture intervention time (day 8 of morbidity), acupoint selection [Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Yingxiang (LI 20), Jiache (ST 6), Dicang (ST 4) on the affected side, Chengjiang (CV 24) and Hegu (LI 4) on the unaffected side] and electroacupuncture intervention, different acupuncture interval time and duration of needle retention were applied. In the group A, the treatment was given 20 min once a day, while the group B 30 min once a day, the group C 20 min once every 2 days, the group D 30 min once every 2 days. Totally 20-day treatment were required. The House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading system was used to evaluate the improvement of clinical symptom, the situation and latency periods of the R1 wave in blink reflex and facial nerve motor conduction before and after treatment were observed in the 4 groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the cured rates in the 4 groups were 44.1% (15/34), 46.9% (15/32), 57.6% (19/33) and 51.5% (17/33), there was no significant difference among 4 groups (>0.05). The situation and latency periods of the R1 wave in blink reflex and latency periods and amplitude of facial nerve motor conduction after treatment were improved in the 4 groups (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture 20 min once a day, 30 min once a day, 20 min once every 2 days and 30 min once every 2 days have significant effect on the recovery of idiopathic facial paralysis, and the effect is comparable.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Bell Palsy , Therapeutics , Electroacupuncture , Facial Paralysis , Therapeutics , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Hemiplegic migraine (HM) is a rare subtype of migraine with aura and is accompanied by a fully reversible motor aura. HM can occur in two forms: familial or sporadic. Currently, three genes are related to familial HM. Typically, HM occurs in the first or second decade of life and involves gradually progressing aura symptoms in succession, accompanied by headaches. The aura includes visual, sensory, motor, aphasic and often basilar-type symptoms. Motor aura (weakness) is related to the regions where the sensory aura is involved, and it usually starts at the hand before spreading to the arm and face. Aphasia is a common form of speech aura, but does not typically present as a difficulty in understanding. In this case report, the sensory-motor aura started at the right face and then gradually progressed to the right leg without any symptoms in the ipsilateral upper extremity. To the best of my knowledge, there has been no previous case report for the presentation of a hemiplegic migraine, as in this case report. As there is a possibility of misdiagnosis of Bell's palsy at the early stage of this case, this case report suggests that a physician should consider the rare possibility of stroke or HM when a patient presents with unilateral facial palsy.
Subject(s)
Humans , Aphasia , Arm , Bell Palsy , Diagnostic Errors , Epilepsy , Facial Paralysis , Hand , Headache , Leg , Migraine Disorders , Migraine with Aura , Stroke , Upper ExtremityABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction: The exact etiology of Bell's palsy still remains obscure. The only authenticated finding is inflammation and edema of the facial nerve leading to entrapment inside the facial canal. Objective: To identify if there is any relationship between the grade of Bell's palsy and diameter of the facial canal, and also to study any possible anatomic predisposition of facial canal for Bell's palsy including parts which have not been studied before. Methods: Medical records and temporal computed tomography scans of 34 patients with Bell's palsy were utilized in this retrospective clinical study. Diameters of both facial canals (affected and unaffected) of each patient were measured at labyrinthine segment, geniculate ganglion, tympanic segment, second genu, mastoid segment and stylomastoid foramen. The House-Brackmann (HB) scale of each patient at presentation and 3 months after the treatment was evaluated from their medical records. The paired samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for comparison of width between the affected side and unaffected side. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was also used for evaluation of relationship between the diameter of facial canal and the grade of the Bell's palsy. Significant differences were established at a level of p = 0.05 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0.; Armonk, NY, IBM Corp). Results: Thirty-four patients - 16 females, 18 males; mean age ± Standard Deviation, 40.3 ± 21.3 - with Bell's palsy were included in the study. According to the HB facial nerve grading system; 8 patients were grade V, 6 were grade IV, 11 were grade III, 8 were grade II and 1 patient was grade I. The mean width at the labyrinthine segment of the facial canal in the affected temporal bone was significantly smaller than the equivalent in the unaffected temporal bone (p = 0.00). There was no significant difference between the affected and unaffected temporal bones at the geniculate ganglion (p = 0.87), tympanic segment (p = 0.66), second genu (p = 0.62), mastoid segment (p = 0.67) and stylomastoid foramen (p = 0.16). We did not find any relationship between the HB grade and the facial canal diameter at the level of labyrinthine segment (p = 0.41), tympanic segment (p = 0.12), mastoid segment (p = 0.14), geniculate ganglion (p = 0.13) and stylomastoid foramen (p = 0.44), while we found significant relationship at the level of second genu (p = 0.02). Conclusion: We found the diameter of labyrinthine segment of facial canal as an anatomic risk factor for Bell's palsy. We also found significant relationship between the HB grade and FC diameter at the level of second genu. Future studies (MRI-CT combined or 3D modeling) are needed to promote this possible relevance especially at second genu. Thus, in the future it may be possible to selectively decompress particular segments in high grade BP patients.
Resumo Introdução: A etiologia exata da paralisia de Bell ainda permanece obscura. Os únicos achados confirmados são a inflamação e o edema do nervo facial (NF) que levam ao aprisionamento no canal facial. Objetivo: Identificar se há alguma relação entre o grau de paralisia de Bell e o diâmetro do canal facial e também estudar qualquer possível predisposição anatômica do canal facial para a paralisia de Bell incluindo as partes que ainda não foram estudadas. Método: Os prontuários médicos e exames de tomografia computadorizada de 34 pacientes com paralisia de Bell foram avaliados neste estudo clínico retrospectivo. Os diâmetros de ambos os canais faciais (acometidos e não acometidos) de cada paciente foram medidos no segmento labiríntico, gânglio geniculado, segmento timpânico, segundo joelho, segmento mastoideo e forame estilomastoideo. As escalas de House-Brackmann (HB) de cada paciente na apresentação inicial e três meses após o tratamento foram avaliadas a partir de seus prontuários. O teste t de amostras pareadas e o teste dos postos sinalizados de Wilcoxon foram usados para comparação de largura entre o lado acometido e o lado não acometido. O teste de postos sinalizados de Wilcoxon também foi usado para avaliação da relação entre o diâmetro do canal facial e o grau de paralisia de Bell. Diferenças significativas foram estabelecidas em um nível de p = 0,05 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, versão 21.0; Armonk, NY, IBM Corp). Resultados: Foram incluídos 34 pacientes - 16 mulheres, 18 homens; idade média ± desvio padrão (DP), 40,3 ± 21,3 com paralisia de Bell. De acordo com o sistema de classificação do nervo facial de HB, oito pacientes eram de grau V, seis de grau IV, 11 de grau III, oito de grau II e um de grau I. A largura média no segmento labiríntico do canal facial no osso temporal acometido foi significativamente menor do que o equivalente no osso temporal não acometido (p = 0,00). Não houve diferença significativa entre os ossos temporais acometidos e não acometidos no gânglio geniculado (p = 0,87), segmento timpânico (p = 0,66), segundo joelho (p = 0,62), segmento mastoide (p = 0,67) e forame estilomastoideo (p = 0,16). Não houve relação entre o grau de HB e o diâmetro do canal facial no nível do segmento labiríntico (p = 0,41), segmento timpânico (p = 0,12), segmento mastoideo (p = 0,14), gânglio geniculado (p = 0,13) e forame estilomastoideo (p = 0,44), mas houve uma relação significativa no nível do segundo joelho (p = 0,02). Conclusão: O diâmetro do segmento labiríntico do canal facial foi um fator de risco anatômico para a paralisia de Bell. Também houve relação significativa entre o grau de HB e o diâmetro do CF no nível do segundo joelho. Estudos futuros (RM-TC combinadas ou modelagem 3D) são necessários para promover essa possível relevância especialmente no segundo joelho. Assim, no futuro, pode ser possível descomprimir segmentos específicos em pacientes com alto grau de PB.