Di Pietro Antonio, Cameron Michelle, Campana Vilma, Leyes Laura, Zalazar Cinat Jessica Andrea Isabel, Lochala Carly, Johnson Christopher Z, Hilldebrand Andrea, Loyo Myriam
Department of Biophysics, Universidad Siglo 21, Córdoba.
Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; VA Portland Health Care System.
Eur J Transl Myol. 2023 Oct 24;33(4):11630. doi: 10.4081/ejtm.2023.11630.
Bell's palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis, affecting one in every 60 people in their lifetime. Transcutaneously applied selective electrical muscle stimulation could potentially accelerate recovery from Bell's palsy but this intervention remains controversial. Studies have shown benefit, but concerns for lack of efficacy and potential for worsening synkinesis remain. We performed a prospective controlled trial comparing outcomes at initial recovery and six months later with selective electrical muscle stimulation and usual physical therapy versus usual physical therapy alone in adults with acute Bell's palsy. Outcomes were facial function assessed with the House Brackman and eFACE scales. Outcomes were evaluated at discharge and six months after discharge. Discharge occurred when participants were judged to be fully recovered by their treating therapist and supervisor. 38 adults participated in the study. Participants in the electrical stimulation group achieved maximal recovery twice as fast as the control group (2.5 weeks versus 5.2 weeks) with no significant differences in facial function or synkinesis between groups at any time point. This study is the first human trial of electrical stimulation in Bell's palsy to follow patients 6 months from recovery and supports that selective electrical muscle stimulation accelerates recovery and does not increase synkinesis.
贝尔面瘫是面瘫最常见的病因，一生中每60人就有1人受其影响。经皮应用选择性电肌肉刺激可能会加速贝尔面瘫的恢复，但这种干预措施仍存在争议。研究显示了其益处，但对缺乏疗效以及加重联带运动的可能性仍存在担忧。我们进行了一项前瞻性对照试验，比较急性贝尔面瘫成人患者在初始恢复时及6个月后的结果，将选择性电肌肉刺激联合常规物理治疗与单纯常规物理治疗进行对比。结果采用House Brackman和eFACE量表对面部功能进行评估。在出院时及出院后6个月对结果进行评估。当治疗师和主管判定参与者已完全康复时即予以出院。38名成年人参与了该研究。电刺激组参与者达到最大恢复速度的时间比对照组快两倍（2.5周对5.2周），且在任何时间点两组之间的面部功能或联带运动均无显著差异。本研究是贝尔面瘫电刺激的首个对患者恢复后6个月进行随访的人体试验，支持选择性电肌肉刺激可加速恢复且不会增加联带运动这一观点。
