Effects of comprehensive and integrated therapy on recovery of facial nerve damage after stroke

Abstract

To investigate the effects of comprehensive and integrated therapy on the recovery of facial nerve function,60 patients with post-stroke facial nerve injury were divided into two groups:Group A (control group) was administered a simple conventional medication,and Group B underwent acupuncture by total considered therapy and was administered a simple conventional medication.Thirty patients were enrolled in each group.The Portmann modified clinical symptom score,intracranial hemodynamics,and electrophysiological parameters were analyzed before and after treatment.Thirty days later,the clinical symptom score in Group B increased significantly compared with that in the control group ( Group B,17.0 ±2.5 ; Group A,13.0 ±2.0; P ＜0.01 ).Group B showed significant improvements in middle cerebral artery blood flow [ Group B,(90 ± 17 ) cm/s; Group A,( 52 ± 15 ) cm/s ; P ＜ 0.01 ],facial nerve conductivity [Group B,latency of the ipsilateral orbicularis muscle,(3.35 ± 0.67) ms; Group A (3.95 ±0.58) ms;P ＜ 0.01 ].These results indicate that the total considered therapy improved the recovery of post-stroke facial nerve function and that this improvement was related to the increase in intracranial blood supply. Key words: Facial nerve; Acupuncture therapy