• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2011

Objectives : Bell's palsy is the most common acute facial paralysis but its causes still unclear. At present, one of the most widely accepted cause is viral infections, and generally socioeconomic factors influence the viral infections. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of incidence of facial palsy with socioeconomic factors. Methods : Seventeen patients with a acute facial palsy, who volunteered and completed all of the assessment measures participated. Using data on 17 participants, we examined the independent contribution of education, income, and occupation to a risk factor of severe facial palsy. Severity of global facial impairment was assessed by the facial disability index (FDI), the house-brackmann facial nerve grading system, WHO quality of life - bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and visual analogue scale (VAS) about discomfort of life. Results : There was no correlation between severity of facial palsy and gender, marriage, education, or occupation. Age greater than 60 years (p<0.05), and low monthly income(p<0.05), poor self-rated health was associated with greater severity of idiopathic facial paralysis. Conclusions : The number of subjects with facial palsy in our study (n-17) was small, and therefore generalization to larger patient populations might be unwarranted. But according to the outcome, we suggest that socioeconomic factors, especially low monthly income influence severity of bell's palsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.163-171
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Miso Facial rejuvenation Acupuncture on severe cases of facial palsy. Methods : Facial palsy patients over the age of 70 with House-Brackmann grading system(HBGS) above Grade V were treated with Miso Facial rejuvenation Acupuncture. The effects of the treatment were evaluated via scales and picture. Results : Before treatment with Miso Facial rejuvenation acupuncture, the three patients showed H-B Gr V. After treatment, they showed improvement to H-B Gr II, III, and II respectively. There also formed nasolabial folds on the palsied side, with better blinking of the eyes, and improved asymmetry of the left and right face. Conclusions : Miso Facial rejuvenation Acupuncture showed marked improvement in intractable facial palsy. Randomized-controlled trial for further evaluation will be needed in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.9-18
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the influence of postauricular pain on Bell's palsy patients. Methods : We investigated 71 cases of patients with Bell's palsy and classified them as existence of Postauricural pain, 71 patients were sequentially interviewed and examined. We evaluated the treatment effect of each group by using Gross Grading System of House-Brackmann(H-B grade) before treatment and after final treatment and we researched differences of sequelae of Bell's palsy, period of treatment, changing point -period from onset of Bell's palsy to the day which the change begins to be seen at the face- and improvement -period which Bell's palsy is improved from onset to H-B gradeII. Results : 1. In age, sex, lesion, duration of disease, we found that two groups have no significant differences. 2. In improvement and period of treatment, we found that two groups have significant differences. In changing-point, we found that two groups had the difference of the average, but they were not statistically significant. 3. As a result of evaluation by using H-B grade, treatment score after final treatment was marked higher than that before treatment within each group. 4. After final treatment, Non-postauricular pain group had significant difference(result) on H-B grade compared with Postauricular pain group. 5. In frequency of sequelae symptoms of Bell's palsy, Postauricular pain group had more higher compared with Non-postauricular pain group. Conclusion : These results suggested that Non postauricular pain group should be get better than Postauricular pain group.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1188-1192
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• 2009

Facail nerve palsy is a common disease in the face. This disease is treated by many methods. But it is not treated by Facial Acupunture. Therefore we performed to evaluate the effect of Facial Acupuncture with oriental dedical treatment in facail nerve palsy. This clinical study was carried out 2 caese of facail nerve palsy which had been admitted our hospital. In this study the patients were treated by Facail Acupuncture. Other treatment were herbal medication, regabilitative therapy. H-B scale(House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system) and Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging were measured from admission to discharge. After being treated by our methods, Patients' H-B scale and Inequality of Facial DITI were improved in cases compared to existing. In the study, The treatment of facial nerve palsy using Facial acupuncture was more effective, especially H-B scale, Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging and treatment period, compared to existing.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2014

Objective : Facial nerve palsy is a common complication of treatment for vestibular schwannoma (VS), so preserving facial nerve function is important. The preoperative visualization of the course of facial nerve in relation to VS could help prevent injury to the nerve during the surgery. In this study, we evaluate the accuracy of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) for preoperative identification of facial nerve. Methods : We prospectively collected data from 11 patients with VS, who underwent preoperative DTT for facial nerve. Imaging results were correlated with intraoperative findings. Postoperative DTT was performed at postoperative 3 month. Facial nerve function was clinically evaluated according to the House-Brackmann (HB) facial nerve grading system. Results : Facial nerve courses on preoperative tractography were entirely correlated with intraoperative findings in all patients. Facial nerve was located on the anterior of the tumor surface in 5 cases, on anteroinferior in 3 cases, on anterosuperior in 2 cases, and on posteroinferior in 1 case. In postoperative facial nerve tractography, preservation of facial nerve was confirmed in all patients. No patient had severe facial paralysis at postoperative one year. Conclusion : This study shows that DTT for preoperative identification of facial nerve in VS surgery could be a very accurate and useful radiological method and could help to improve facial nerve preservation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.126-136
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• 2007

Objectives : Bell's palsy in an acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis that usually affects only one side of the face. The seventh cranial nerve carries predominantly motor fibers, but also supplies some autonomic innervation, sensation to park of the ear, and taste to the anterior two thirds of the tongue. The aim of this study is to provide evidence of differences between facial skin temperature of the paralyzed side and normal side in Bell's palsy patients. Methods : the author studied 68 patients with Bell's palsy whose facial nerve function had been documented by the House-Brackmann grading system. We measured skin temperature of the forehead, zygoma, lower lip, temple and lower jaw area of the paralyzed side and those of the normal side. Results : there were significant facial skin temperature differences between the forehead area of paralyzed side and that of normal side of GrII(P<0.05) and III(P<0.05). The result also showed that the facial skin temperature difference according to the aflection period vanished when air temperature was calibrated (F=1.700, P=0.178). Conclusions : Thermography is a useful diagnostic tool in Bell's palsy if the air temperature is low enough to cool the facial skin temperature and the forehead area is evaluated as the sampling zone.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this case is to report the improvement of two patients diagnosed with eight and a half syndrome after combination therapy of oriental and western medicine. Methods : We treated the patients with combination therapy of oriental and western medicine such as acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medication, antithrombotic agents and steroid therapy. Changes of peripheral facial paralysis were evaluated using House-Brackmann facial grading system and the degree of dizziness, tenderness and pain of upper abdomen were assessed using numerous rating scale. Changes in motor grade of upper and lower extremities were evaluated using medical research council scale. Results : We have recently experienced two cases of eight and a half syndrome - a syndrome characterized by the coexistence of one and a half syndrome, a rare ophthalmoparetic syndrome characterized by a conjugate horizontal gaze palsy in one direction and an internuclear ophthalmoplegia in the other, and cranial nerve VII palsy. The one and a half syndrome was caused by acute cerebral infarction. Two patients in this report were improved through combination therapy of oriental and western medicine. Conclusions : We report the clinical course and treatment methods of eight and a half syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.175-187
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of facial rejuvenation acupuncture on cases of sequela of facial nerve palsy. Methods : This study was carried out in respect of 5 cases of sequela of facial nerve palsy patients which had been treated in Dong-Shin university oriental hospital from 2009 year with House-Brackmann grading system(HBGS) above Grade IV. In this study the patients were treated by facial rejuvenation acupuncture. The effect of the treatment were evaluated via scales and picture. Results : After treatment with facial rejuvenation acupuncture, 5 patients improved H-B scale and symptoms of the sequela of facial nerve palsy. The average of H-B scale was increased from 3.2 to 6.4. There also formed forehead folds, better blinking of the eyes and improved asymmetry of the left and right face. Conclusions : In the study, facial rejuvenation acupuncture showed marked improvement in sequela of facial nerve palsy. Randomized-controlled trial for further evaluation will be needed in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.129-143
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• 2009

Objective : This study was aimed to investigate the general features and differences between obesity and skinniness of patients with Bell's palsy. Methods : We measured the sex, age. BMI. pulse diagnosis and HBGS (House-Brackmann Grading System) of 234 patients who were diagnosed with Bell's palsy. Results and Conclusions : The results with statistical significance were as follows (1) The distribution of age revealed that 40s was the most at 30.8 %: (2) The improvement period in facial palsy patients with sub-paralysis was shorter than whole-paralysis. And in one part the more we treated, the shorter the improvement period was: (3) In distribution of fat rate in facial palsy patients, obesity was the most at 61.37%, low weight 15.88%. So we found that the fatter the patients was. the higher the onset rate was: (4) In distribution of pulse diagnosis in facial palsy patients with obesity. the ratio of Xu mai (虛脈) was 67.06%. Shi mai (實脈) 32.94%. The Xu mai was similar to Qi xu (氣虛). So we found that the facial palsy patients with obesity were more Qi xu than with low weight. In distribution of pulse diagnosis in facial palsy patients with skinniness, the ratio of Chi mai (遲脈) was none. Shuo mai (數脈) was most: (5) In distribution of region in facial palsy patients with obesity-Xu mai. the ratio of left was 45.10%, right 54.90%, but this result was not statistically significant.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.303-309
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• 2021

Background: Transferring the hypoglossal nerve to the facial nerve using an end-to-end method is very effective for improving facial motor function. However, this technique may result in hemitongue atrophy. The ansa cervicalis, which arises from the cervical plexus, is also used for facial reanimation. We retrospectively reviewed cases where facial reanimation was performed using the ansa cervicalis to overcome the shortcomings of existing techniques of hypoglossal nerve transfer. Methods: The records of 15 patients who underwent hypoglossal nerve transfer were retrospectively reviewed. Three methods were used: facial reanimation with hypoglossal nerve transfer (group 1), facial nerve reanimation using the ansa cervicalis (group 2), and sural nerve interposition grafting between the hypoglossal nerve and facial nerve (group 3). In group 1, the ansa cervicalis was coapted to neurotize the distal stump of the hypoglossal nerve in a subset of patients. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the House-Brackmann (H-B) grading system and Emotrics software. Results: All patients in group 1 (n= 4) achieved H-B grade IV facial function and showed improvements in the oral commissure angle at rest (preoperative vs. postoperative difference, 6.48° ± 0.77°) and while smiling (13.88° ± 2.00°). In groups 2 and 3, the oral commissure angle slightly improved at rest (group 2: 0.95° ± 0.53°, group 3: 1.35° ± 1.02°) and while smiling (group 2: 2.06° ± 0.67°, group 3: 1.23° ± 0.56°). In group 1, reduced tongue morbidity was found in patients who underwent ansa cervicalis transfer. Conclusion: Facial reanimation with hypoglossal nerve transfer, in combination with hypoglossal nerve neurotization using the ansa cervicalis for complete facial palsy patients, might enable favorable facial reanimation outcomes and reduce tongue morbidity. Facial reanimation using the ansa cervicalis or sural nerve for incomplete facial palsy patients did not lead to remarkable improvements, but it warrants further investigation.