A case of acupuncture treatment for sequelae of complete left-sided facial paralysis a year and three months after onset

Abstract

[Objective] We report on the effect of acupuncture treatment for sequelae of complete left-sided facial paralysis a year and three months after onset.[Case] A 51-year-old man was diagnosed with acute complete left-sided facial paralysis. The patient received treatment of intravenous infusion of steroids on admission to the hospital and administration of oral vitamin B12, and he visited two other hospitals, although he showed no improvement in his condition; At his first medical consultation with us, he scored ten points on the Yanagihara facial nerve grading system and 16 points on the Sunnybrook method. A year and three months after onset of this condition, he started to receive acupuncture treatment. Since kidney qi deficiency was confirmed, a point combination was performed for the purpose of tonifying qi and the kidney as a radical treatment. The needles were inserted at ten acupuncture points on the face including the non-paralyzed side, indirect moxibustion was applied to two points on the paralyzed side, and the needle was inserted at acupuncture points in distant regions.[Progress] A total of 40 acupuncture treatment were performed within a year and seven months after the start of the acupuncture treatment. His condition improved as shown by a score of 38 points on the Yanagihara facial nerve grading system and 93 points on the Sunnybrook method. In addition, acupuncture therapy reduced the scores for sequelae such as crocodile tears, facial spasms, and facial contractures. Acupuncture treatment was found to be effective in this case.[Discussion] It was notable that although the aftereffects of facial paralysis were chronic and severe, intensive acupuncture treatment by the simultaneous treatment of root and tip was able to improve the subject's condition.