A prospective randomised controlled study on efficacies of acupuncture and steroid in treatment of idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Tong
Fu Man
FM
Department of ENT, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China. tongfm@yahoo.com
Chow
Shun Kit
SK
Chan
Patrick Yiu Bong
PY
Wong
Alex Kam Wah
AK
Wan
Sambo Shuk Ying
SS
Ng
Rebecca Ka Wah
RK
Chan
Geoffrey
G
Chan
Wing Shan
WS
Ng
Angela
A
Law
Chi Keung
CK
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000628:therapy*; D005154:Facial Nerve; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D005938:Glucocorticoids