초록
Background and Objetive : Lack of uniformity in reporting facial nerve recovery in patients with facial nerve paralysis has been a major disadvantage in comparing treatment modalities. The objective evaluation of facial nerve function is a complex procedure. The House and Brackmann grading system, the Yanagihara grading system has been recommend as a universal standard for assessing the degree of facial nerve palsy. However, clinical studies for treatment of facial palsy have rarely used this universal standard in oriental medicine. That is the reason for analysing this facial nerve grading system. Material and Method : We choose 10 scales reported from 1955 till 1995. These facial nerve grading systems may be classified as Gross system, Regional system and Specific system. Result and Conculsion : The scales of Botmann and Jonkees, May, Peitersen, and House and Brackmann are the gross facial nerve grading systems with which we grossly assess the facial motor dysfunction and the secondary defect. Among these scales, H-B scale is the most widespred The scales of Yanagihara(若杉文吉), Smith, Adour and Swanson, Jassen, FEMA are the regional facial nerve grading system in which we weight, or unweight the facial motor dysfunction and the secondary defect. For example, the scales of Yanagihara(若杉文吉) and Smith are the unweighted regional scale, the scale of Adour and Swanson, Jassen, FEMA are the weighted regional grading system. The scale of Stennert is the Specific facial nerve grading system in which we respectively assess the grade of facial dysfunction at rest, in motion and the secondary defect. For the objective evaluation of the oriental medicine treatment for facial palsy, we must use the universal standard scale, i.e. the H-B scale, the Yanagihara scale.
