Physical Therapist, Ministry of Health, Cairo, Egypt.
Professor of Physical Therapy in Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2022;84(5):370-377. doi: 10.1159/000521789. Epub 2022 Mar 8.
Bell's palsy is acute facial paralysis with unclear etiology that results in weakness of facial muscles or paralysis on one side of the face.
This prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled study was conducted on 45 patients with Bell's palsy who were randomly divided into three equal groups. Two groups received either low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or electrical stimulation (E.S.) both in conjunction to medications, massage, and facial exercise treatment. The third group (control) was treated with medication, massage, and facial exercise.
The primary outcome was the improvement of nerve conduction velocity of facial nerve while the secondary outcome was the change of Sunnybrook facial grading system (SBGS). The outcome measures were evaluated pre- and posttreatment. There was statistically significant difference between the three groups in favor of the LLLT group regarding the nerve action potential amplitude and latency, in addition to signs of nerve regeneration and improved SBGS.
This short-term investigation revealed that LLLT proved to be more efficient than E.S. in facial nerve regeneration for patients with Bell's palsy.
贝尔氏麻痹是一种病因不明的急性面肌瘫痪，导致面部肌肉无力或一侧瘫痪。
本前瞻性、随机、单盲、对照研究纳入 45 例贝尔氏麻痹患者，随机分为三组。两组均采用低水平激光治疗（LLLT）或电刺激（E.S.）联合药物、按摩和面部运动治疗。第三组（对照组）仅接受药物、按摩和面部运动治疗。
主要结局为面神经神经传导速度的改善，次要结局为桑尼布鲁克面部分级系统（SBGS）的变化。在治疗前和治疗后评估了这些结局指标。在神经动作电位幅度和潜伏期、神经再生迹象以及 SBGS 改善方面，LLLT 组与 E.S.组和对照组相比，差异具有统计学意义。
这项短期研究表明，对于贝尔氏麻痹患者，LLLT 在面神经再生方面比 E.S.更有效。
