Acupuncture combined with ganglioside and mecobalamine injections can relieve the symptoms of idiopathic facial palsy

Abstract

Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with ganglioside and mecobalamine injections on idiopathic facial palsy (IFP). Methods A total of 120 IFP patients were divided into a ganglioside group, a mecobalamine group and a consociation group, each of 40. All were given routine drug and acupuncture treatment, while the ganglioside and mecoblamine groups were additionally provided with the corresponding injections of ganglioside and mecobalamine, respectively. The treatment was administered once daily for a total of 14 days. All the groups were evaluated using the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system before and after the interventions of 14 days ended. The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) wave amplitude and R1 incubation, the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) of the affected facial nerves were observed and compared before and after the 14 days of treatment. Results The total effectiveness rate of the consociation group (95.0%) was significantly higher than that of the ganglioside (90.0%) or the mecobalamine group (87.5%). After the treatment the CMAP wave amplitude had improved significantly and the R1 latency had shortened significantly in the consociation group compared to the other 2 groups. The average MCV and SCV of the consociation group had also improved significantly compared with the other two groups. Conclusion Acupuncture combined with ganglioside and mecobalamine injections is an effective therapy for idiopathic facial palsy. It can improve the patient′s clinical symptoms, shorten the CMAP wave amplitude and R1 latency on the affected side and improve MCV and SCV. Key words: Acupuncture; Gangliosides; Mecobalamine; Idiopathic facial palsy; Muscle activation potentials; R1 latency; Nerve conduction velocity