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Low-level laser therapy in pediatric Bell's palsy: case report in a three-year-old child
Carla Raquel Fontana1, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
1Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Univ Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil. fontanacr@fcfar.unesp.br
Insights
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) successfully treated a child with Bell's palsy (BP), accelerating facial symmetry and movement recovery. This non-pharmacological approach offers a promising alternative for pediatric BP treatment.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Photomedicine
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Bell's palsy (BP) is a sudden onset of facial nerve dysfunction, often idiopathic, affecting individuals of all ages.
- Pediatric BP cases require effective and safe treatment modalities to minimize long-term sequelae.
- Current treatment options for BP may include corticosteroids, antiviral medications, and supportive therapies, with varying efficacy and potential side effects.
Observation:
- A three-year-old boy presented with acute, idiopathic facial asymmetry characteristic of Bell's palsy.
- The patient received low-level laser therapy (LLLT) using a gallium aluminum arsenide semiconductor diode laser (660 nm and 780 nm) without any pharmacological interventions.
- Treatment involved direct contact application to the affected facial area over 11 sessions within a 3-week period.
Findings:
- The study documented significant improvement in facial movement and symmetry following LLLT.
- The child achieved complete recovery of facial nerve motor function, restoring normality.
- The House-Brackmann grading system was utilized to objectively assess the progressive recovery of facial function.
Implications:
- LLLT demonstrates potential as an effective, non-invasive therapeutic option for accelerating recovery in pediatric Bell's palsy.
- This case study suggests LLLT could be a valuable alternative to conventional treatments, particularly in children where medication use may be a concern.
- Further research into LLLT parameters and broader clinical application in pediatric facial nerve palsy is warranted.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to apply low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to accelerate the recovery process of a child patient with Bell's palsy (BP).
Design:
This was a prospective study.
Subject:
The subject was a three-year-old boy with a sudden onset of facial asymmetry due to an unknown cause.
Materials And Methods:
The low-level laser source used was a gallium aluminum arsenide semiconductor diode laser device (660 nm and 780 nm). No steroids or other medications were given to the child. The laser beam with a 0.04-cm(2) spot area, and an aperture with approximately 1-mm diameter, was applied in a continuous emission mode in direct contact with the facial area. The duration of a laser session was between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the chosen points and the area being treated. Light was applied 10 seconds per point on a maximum number of 80 points, when the entire affected (right) side of the face was irradiated, based on the small laser beam spot size. According to the acupuncture literature, this treatment could also be carried out using 10-20 Chinese acupuncture points, located unilaterally on the face. In this case study, more points were used because the entire affected side of the face (a large area) was irradiated instead of using acupuncture points.
Outcome Measures:
The House-Brackmann grading system was used to monitor the evolution of facial nerve motor function. Photographs were taken after every session, always using the same camera and the same magnitude. The three-year-old boy recovered completely from BP after 11 sessions of LLLT. There were 4 sessions a week for the first 2 weeks, and the total treatment time was 3 weeks.
Results:
The result of this study was the improvement of facial movement and facial symmetry, with complete reestablishment to normality.
Conclusions:
LLLT may be an alternative to speed up facial normality in pediatric BP.
