Treatment of 1 500 cases of peripheral facial paralysis with constant magnetic aerobic atraumatic method along meridian

Ping LI; Jie YUAN; Yaning YANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Peripheral facial paralysis is treated at present only with traditional traumatic methods, such as acupuncture, moxibustion,needling with physical therapy, point-injection, thread burial therapy,scraping therapy, etc. Those methods do not act directly on the lesion of facial nerve and they are long in duration of treatment and low in curative rate. The constant magnetic aerobic atruamatic method along meridian just makes up the shortcoming of the traditional therapies.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the therapeutic effects of constant magnetic aerobic atruamatic method along meridian on treatment of peripheral facial paralysis.

DESIGN:

Case analysis.

SETTING:

Department of Facial Paralysis, College of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.

PARTICIPANTS:

Totally 1 500 cases of first diagnosed peripheral facial paralysis were employrd in 18 provinces and autonomic regions in China from June 1998 to June 2004, of which, 935 cases were male and 565 cases female. Of 103 cases were aged varied from 1.5 to 19 years, 1 105 cases from 20 to 50 years and 292 cases from 51 to 74 years. Of 672 cases were left palsy and 828 cases were right palsy. The duration of sickness was varied from 1 day to 40 years.

METHODS:

Constant magnetic aerobic therapy for 20 minutes was applied on facial-palsy effective points for all of cases [No.1 point in the depression inferior to mastoid process behind ear lobe on the affected side,corresponding to the mastoid foramen, from which, the facial nerve emerges. No.2 point on the arch top of mastoid process behind ear lobe on the affected side. No.3 point about 3.33 cm (1 cun) above No.1 point. No.4 in the conjunction between the point about 0.5 cm posterior to the external auricular tract and the one 0.5 cm inferior to helix cms. No.5 pointabout 1 cun anterior to ear apex. No.6 point on the top of the upper border of helix on the affected side] and supplementary points [Qianzheng (Extra),Dicong (ST 4), bilateral Hegu (LI 4)], once per day, 10 days makes one course. There were a couple of days at interval between two courses, totally two courses were required. Point and oxygen therapies were applied simultaneously. Oxygen therapy 20 minute/time, once per day, 10 days made one course, at the volume of oxygen 2-4 L/minute. Evaluation of therapeutic effects It was to compare the changes between the affected side and healthy side in forehand wrinkles, frowning, closing eyes, whistling, blowing and smiling and the changes between two sides in nasal labial groove and philtrum during showing the teeth and at static state. Comparison of bilateral muscularis function of healthy people and patients were obtained with the six-point and four-line measurement.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Results of evaluation on clinical therapeutic effects.

RESULTS:

Totally 1 500 cases of peripheral facial paralysis entered result analysis, no dropped out case. After 20 days treatment, 1 385 cases (92.33%) were recovered, 92 cases (6.13%) appeared significant effect, 22cases (1.74%) were improved and 1 case (0.07%) was no effect. The total effective rate was 99.93%.

CONCLUSION:

Constant magnetic field in combination with oxygen therapy is characterized as no pain, no trauma, no cross infection and no second injury of facial nerve, safe and convenient operation, short duration of treatment and high curative rate. It improves remarkably the symptoms of facial paralysis and recovers facial function.