Photobiomodulation Therapy for Idiopathic Facial Paralysis
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2022-02-20
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Objective:
Bell's palsy is characterized by acute, unilateral onset that compromises function and
esthetics, exerting a considerable impact on the social, professional, and psychological
aspects of the lives of affected individuals. Without treatment, 30% of patients with
complete paralysis will not completely recover. Therefore, shortening the recovery time will
accelerate the recovery process leading to better results.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT)
in the patients undergoing Bell's palsy.
Methods:
This study was an open-label, randomized controlled trial including 96 patients that
undergoing Bell's palsy.
Patients were assigned to the PBMT group and control group, with 48 patients in each group.
PBMT group were received 12 sessions of PBMT (3 times per week), while control group were
received prednisolone treatment.
Clinical outcome measure comprised the House-Brackmann grading system, Facial Clinimetric
Evaluation Scale (FaCE), Sunnybrook facial grading scale (SBFG), and electrophysiological
testing, including Electroneuronography (ENoG), Electromyography (EMG) and Blink Reflex. All
the measurements were collected at the first day and at the end of study. All reported P
values were two-sided and were declared statistically significant when less than 0.05.