Detailed Search Results
| Author/Association: | Tong FM, Chow SK, Chan PYB, Wong AKW, Wan SSY, Ng RKW, Chan G, Chan WS, Ng A, Law CK |
| Title: | A prospective randomised controlled study on efficacies of acupuncture and steroid in treatment of idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis [with consumer summary] |
| Source: | Acupuncture in Medicine 2009 Dec;27(4):169-173 |
| Method: | clinical trial |
| Method Score: | 6/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: No; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: Yes; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed* |
| Consumer Summary: | SUMMARY POINTS: Idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis refers to the acute lower motor neuron type of facial paralysis without any obvious cause on presentation. There are no good western medicine and Chinese medicine treatments that improve on the natural course of recovery. The difference in degree of recovery and speed of recovery in these three groups was statistically not significant. A trend in favouring acupuncture over steroids suggests that further studies are justified. |
| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: A randomised controlled trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in comparison with steroid in treatment of idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis (Bell's palsy). METHODS: A total of 119 patients attending Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital from February 2003 to December 2005 were randomly allocated to groups of acupuncture, steroid and control (conventional expectant treatment). There were 53 in the steroid group, 28 in the acupuncture group and 38 in the control group. Patients were assessed weekly by blinded assessors, using the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system. RESULTS: The efficacy of treatment in three groups was compared, in terms of degree of recovery and speed of recovery. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed. Results were analysed with SPSS software. Distribution of initial grade on presentation was analysed with the Pearson Chi-square test and showed uneven distribution in the three groups in the intention-to-treat analysis. The overall improvement (grade 3 or better) was 86.9% in the steroid group, 96.4% in the acupuncture group and 89.5% in the control group respectively. However, the difference in degree of recovery and speed of recovery in the three groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The efficacies of acupuncture, steroid and conventional expectant treatment (natural course of recovery) in idiopathic peripheral facial palsy (Bell's palsy) in the study were the same with respect to the degree of recovery and speed of recovery. Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):  help |
