Effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on central facial paralysis after ischemic stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

@#Objective To explore the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on central facial paralysis after ischemic stroke. Methods From June, 2020 to June, 2021, 54 patients with central facial palsy after ischemic stroke who were hospitalized in the Rehabilitation Department of Xuzhou Central Hospital were randomly divided into control group (n = 27) and experimental group (n = 27). Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation treatment, including medication and facial muscle rehabilitation training. The experimental group was treated with 5 Hz rTMS on the affected primary motor cortex, and the control group was treated with the same parameters of sham stimulation at the same site. Before treatment and four weeks after treatment, the House-Brackmann Grading System 2.0 (HBGS-2), the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System, the horizontal distance difference between the bilateral mouth corners to the lower center of the philtrum at rest, the horizontal distance difference between the bilateral mouth corners to the intersection of the mandibular central incisor when showing the teeth at the best effort and the angle of the tongue midline deviating from the facial midline when the tongue was stretched out were used to evaluate the facial nerve function of the patient. Results One case dropped down in each group. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the scores of HBGS-2 and Sunnybrook Facial Grading System, the horizontal distance difference between the bilateral mouth corners to the lower center of the philtrum at rest, the horizontal distance difference between the bilateral mouth corners to the intersection of the mandibular central incisor when showing the teeth at the best effort, and the angle of the tongue midline deviating from the facial midline when the tongue was stretched out between two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, all the indexes significantly improved in both groups (|t| > 8.987, P < 0.001), and were better in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.939, P < 0.01). Conclusion 5 Hz rTMS on the affected primary motor cortex is effective on the facial nerve function of patients with central facial palsy after ischemic stroke.