Acupuncture for sequelae of Bell's palsy: a randomized controlled trial protocol

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Facial palsy, particularly Bell's palsy, can lead to long-term quality of life issues due to incomplete recovery.
• Current medical and therapeutic options for Bell's palsy sequelae have limited clinical evidence supporting their effectiveness.
• Acupuncture is a common treatment for Bell's palsy in East Asia, but its efficacy for sequelae requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for treating sequelae of Bell's palsy.
• To assess the impact of acupuncture on facial disability and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing an acupuncture group with a waitlist control group.
• Acupuncture administered three times weekly for 8 weeks (24 sessions).
• Primary outcome: change in Facial Disability Index (FDI) from baseline to 8 weeks; secondary outcomes include FDI at 5 weeks, House-Brackmann Grade, lip mobility, and stiffness.

Main Results:

• Data analysis is pending; results will focus on the primary outcome (change in FDI at 8 weeks) and secondary outcomes.
• Comparison between the acupuncture and waitlist groups will determine treatment effectiveness.
• Safety and tolerability of acupuncture will also be assessed.

Conclusions:

• The study aims to provide evidence on acupuncture's effectiveness for Bell's palsy sequelae.
• Findings could inform clinical practice regarding non-invasive treatment options for long-term facial paralysis.
• This research may highlight acupuncture as a viable complementary therapy for improving patient outcomes.