LINEAR POLARIZED LIGHT THERAPY IMPROVES BELL'S PALSY

Abstract

The SuperLizer™ (SL) is a linearly polarized broad-band near-infrared light source which can deliver a combination of phototherapy and infrared mediated heat therapy in a noninvasive manner. The present study examines the therapeutic effect of SL treatment on Bell's palsy. Fifty patients with Bell's palsy were the subjects of the study and they were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I consisted of 25 patients treated with SL radiation and oral prednisolone administration. Group II consisted of 25 patients treated with oral prednisolone administration alone. The effect of treatment was assessed with electroneurography (ENoG), coupled with the 40 points evaluation scale proposed by Yanagihara. There was no significant difference in Yanagihara's scores and ENoG between groups I and II three months after the onset of the disease in those patients with less than 50% neural degeneration. In patients with more than 50% degeneration, however, Yanagihara's score of 31.7 ± 2.1 (mean ± SEM) in group I was significantly higher than the 25.5 ± 2.4 score of group II at the same post-onset period. The group I ENoG score of 51.4 ± 4.2% was also significantly higher than the 43.0 ± 3.6% score of group II at the three month post-onset period. We conclude that SL radiation combined with prednisolone is a more effective treatment than prednisolone alone in Bell's palsy patients with more than 50% degeneration.