Objective: To explore the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) with sparse-dense wave form on the improvement of facial nerve edema, facial spasm, and repair of nerve injury in patients with acute facial paralysis.
Methods: This study enrolled 100 patients who were treated for acute facial paralysis in People’s Hospital of Dongxihu District from December 2019 to December 2020. They were randomly divided into the control group (continuous wave) and the sparse-dense wave group (sparse-dense wave), following by being intervened by EA with different wave forms. Then the facial disability index (FDI) score, serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) in the two groups were evaluated.
Results: The total effectiveness rate (98.00% and 86.00%, respectively; P < 0.05) and the recovery rate of facial spasm (76.00% and 56.00%, respectively; P < 0.05) in the sparse-dense wave group was both significantly higher than that of the control group. After treatment, the scores of physical functions of patients in both groups increased (P < 0.05), the scores of social/well-being dysfunctions decreased (P < 0.05). Besides, the levels of serum IgA, IgG, and IgM in both groups decreased (P < 0.05), and the serum levels in the sparse-dense wave group were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: EA intervention with sparse-dense wave form is effective for patients with acute facial paralysis, in that it effectively reduced the occurrence of facial spasm and promoted the improvement of edema and repair of nerve injury.
Keywords: acute phase, electroacupuncture, EA, facial spasm, nerve edema, nerve injury repair, peripheral facial paralysis, sparse-dense wave