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Revista Cubana de Medicina General Integral
Print version ISSN 0864-2125On-line version ISSN 1561-3038
Abstract
MARTIN BARCELO, Nayela et al. Acupuncture and Neural Therapy for Treating Bell’s Palsy. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2020, vol.36, n.4, e1253. Epub Dec 01, 2020. ISSN 0864-2125.
Introduction:
The effectiveness of alternative therapies for treating Bell's palsy is still controversial.
Objective:
To report the experience in the treatment of Bell's palsy through joint administration of acupuncture and neural therapy.
Methods:
Information was collected from 30 patients with Bell's palsy, who received a weekly session of acupuncture and neural therapy jointly and were assessed using the House-Brackmann scale for 12 weeks.
Results:
80% (24) of the patients continued treatment until week 12 and, at the end of the week, none reached normal motor function. Only 6 patients (25%) showed signs of recovery between weeks 6 and 12. Thus, the percentage of patients with grade IV decreased from 6 (20%), during the initial evaluation, to 3 (12%), during week 9 (p<0.001); while the percentage of patients with grade III decreased from 12 (50%), during week 9, to 9 (38%), during week 12 (p=0.663). Adverse effects were evidenced in 9 (32%) patients, including hematoma at the puncture site and syncope, which was solved without complications.
Conclusions:
Joint administration of acupuncture and neural therapy for at least six weeks had modest effects on the recovery of patients with Bell's palsy, without producing major adverse effects.
Keywords : Bell’s palsy; acupuncture; neural therapy; treatment; adverse effects.