title: The effect of subthreshold continuous electrical stimulation on the facial function of patients with Bell's palsy.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The drug regimen plus electrical stimulation was more effective in treating Bell's palsy than the conventional drug treatment alone. The effectiveness of such a sub-threshold, continuous, low frequency electrical stimulation suggests a new therapeutic approach to accelerate nerve regeneration and improve functional recovery after injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether sub-threshold, continuous electrical stimulation at 20 Hz facilitates functional recovery of patients with Bell's palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed a prospective randomized study that included 60 patients with mild-to-moderate grade Bell's palsy (HB grade ≤4, SB grade ≥40), to evaluate the effect of developed electrical stimulation on the resolution of symptoms. Thirty patients were treated with prednisolone or/and acyclovir plus electrical stimulation within 7 days of the onset of symptoms. The other 30 patients were treated with only prednisolone or/and acyclovir as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of patient recovery among those treated with prednisolone or/and acyclovir plus electrical stimulation (96%) was significantly better (p < 0.05) than the rate among those treated with only prednisolone or/and acyclovir (88%).
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Inje University College of Medicine , Goyang-si , Republic of Korea and.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: b Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Facial palsy; electrical stimulation