Observation on the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with external application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of Idiopathic facial nerve paralysis
[Objective]This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture combined with external application of traditional Chinese medicine(EATCM)in the treatment of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis.[Methods]180 patients with idiopathic facial nerve paralysis who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into treatment group 1,treatment group 2 and control group according to the ratio of 1∶1∶1.Treatment group 1 was treated with electroacupuncture,treatment group 2 was treated with electroacupuncture combined with EATCM,and control group was treated with oral Western medicine.All three groups received 3 weeks of treatment.The primary outcome measure was the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System(SFGS)score,and the secondary outcome measures were the House-Brackmann Grading Scale(HBGS),Nottingham System score,and incidence of treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs).[Results]164 patients completed 3 weeks of treatment,including 56 patients in treatment group 1,53 patients in treatment group 2,and 55 patients in the control group.The baseline characteristics of the three groups were consistent(P>0.05).After 3 weeks of treatment,the SFGS score,HBGS and Nottingham System score of the three groups were better than those before treatment(P<0.05),and the scores of the treatment group 2 were significantly better than those of the treatment group 1 and the control group(P<0.05);There was no adverse reactions in the three groups during the study.[Conclusion]Electroacupuncture combined with EATCM is a safe and effective treatment for idiopathic facial nerve paralysis,which can significantly promote the recovery of facial nerve function and provide a new therapeutic idea for further improving the prognosis of patients with idiopathic facial paralysis.
electroacupunctureexternal application of traditional Chinese medicineidiopathic facial nerve paralysisrandomized controlled trial