Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
Department of Acupuncture, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402 Taiwan.
Complement Ther Med. 2019 Apr;43:306-310. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.02.015. Epub 2019 Feb 27.
Traumatic facial palsy, whether accidental or iatrogenic, is a common cause of facial paralysis. Laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) is a non-invasive, pain-free method to stimulate traditional acupuncture points with non-thermal laser irradiation. Low-level laser therapy has proven beneficial in the regeneration of peripheral nerves. This case report describes the feasibility of this innovative treatment in a patient with a 12-year history of traumatic facial palsy and severe sequelae.
A52-year-old male presented with a severe left-sided facial paralysis that had lasted for 12 years. At initial presentation, the man could not fully close his left eye and had difficulty eating solid foods. The paralysis of his left-sided facial muscles had resulted in dysarthria. He was administered 30 LAT sessions in the Acupuncture Department of China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, over a 4-month period. His recovery was monitored by scores on the Facial Disability Index, the Sunnybrook Facial Nerve Grading System and measurements of the vertical palpebral distance in his left eye. Photographs were taken after every treatment. On the 10th treatment, a change in closure of the left eye was noticed and facial muscle strength was improved. After 22 treatments, the patient could fully close his left eye.
LAT significantly improved the sequelae of long-term facial paralysis in this patient. Large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm this observation [added]
无论是意外还是医源性的创伤性面瘫，都是面瘫的常见原因。激光针灸疗法（LAT）是一种非侵入性、无痛的方法，用非热激光照射刺激传统针灸穴位。低水平激光疗法已被证明对周围神经再生有益。本病例报告描述了这种创新疗法在一名 12 年前因创伤性面瘫和严重后遗症而导致面瘫的患者中的可行性。
一名 52 岁男性因严重左侧面瘫就诊，面瘫已持续 12 年。初次就诊时，该男子左眼无法完全闭合，难以进食固体食物。左侧面肌瘫痪导致构音障碍。他在中国台湾台中中国医药大学附设医院针灸科接受了 30 次 LAT 治疗，历时 4 个月。通过面部残疾指数、桑尼布鲁克面神经分级系统和左眼垂直眼睑距离的测量来监测他的恢复情况。每次治疗后都会拍照。在第 10 次治疗时，注意到左眼闭合情况发生变化，面部肌肉力量得到改善。经过 22 次治疗后，患者可以完全闭合左眼。
LAT 显著改善了这名患者长期面瘫的后遗症。需要进行大规模的前瞻性研究来证实这一观察结果。
