• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2008

Purpose: Bell's palsy is a peripheral facial palsy of unknown etiology. During pregnancy, there is an increased incidence of Bell's palsy. Due to the nature of pregnancy, it is unlikely to treat Bell's palsy during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to report on 3 patients with Bell's palsy during pregnancy, who improved by oriental medical treatment. Methods: The patients who had Bell's palsy during pregnancy were treated with oriental medical treatment such as herbal medication and acupuncture therapy. House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system was used to estimate the efficacy of these treatments. Results: After the oriental medical treatment, the clinical symptoms of Bell's palsy during pregnancy were improved. Conclusion: This case study shows that the oriental medical therapy is effective in treating Bell's palsy during pregnancy. Further systematic studies and specific guidelines of Bell's palsy during pregnancy would be of much value.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.214-225
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze case reports on and to study Korean medicine treatments of facial palsy. Methods: Studies published after 2000 were selected by searching for the terms "facial palsy" and "Guanwasa" in four databases and case reports using Korean medicine moderating variables were extracted by two individual researchers. Results: The House Brackmann (H-B) Scale (23 times, 65.7%), and Yanagihara Grading Scale (Y-system) (22 times, 62.8%) were used to assess facial palsy. All case reports used acupuncture, while 19 case reports (51.3%) used electro-acupuncture, and 8 case reports (21.6%) used pharmacopuncture. Main meridian points used were ST6, ST4, GB14, TE23, LI20, BL2. Thirty-two case reports used herbal medicine (86.4%) and both Ligigeopoong-san, Bojunglkgi-tang were used frequently. Conclusion: To treat facial palsy, acupuncture was mainly used in conjunction with electro-acupuncture and pharmacopuncture. Most case reports also used herbal medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report a case of bilateral facial palsy in a patient with Guillain-Barre Syndrome after coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) vaccination. Methods : The patient diagnosed as Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Bilateral facial palsy after COVID-19 vaccination. We applied Korean medical treatment including acupuncture and herbal medicine for bilateral facial palsy. We used HBGS(House-Brackmann Grading System), VAS(Visual Analog Scale) to estimate the symptoms. Results : After the treatment, both facial palsy showed big improvement. Compared to the onset, HBGS improved by Grade 1/2 and VAS by 2. Conclusions : This case report shows effect of Korean medicine on Bilateral facial palsy and suggests a possibility of Korean medicine to treat adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2022

Two patients with sequelae of peripheral facial nerve palsy were treated with Facial Chuna Manual Therapy (FCMT) and acupuncture over 6 months. The House-Brackmann (HB) scale, facial nerve grading system 2.0 (FNGS), the scale of Peitersen, the scale of Murata, and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were used to assess the effects of treatment. The HB scale, FNGS and NRS scores showed improvement for both patients (Case 1: HB scale 5 to 3, FNGS 4 to 2, NRS 10 to 5; Case 2: HB scale 5 to 3, FNGS 4 to 3, NRS 10 to 2.5) following 6 months of treatment. The scores for the Peitersen and Murata scales showed improvement over 6 months in Case 1 (Peitersen 2 to 1, Murata 10 to 7), but there was no change in Case 2 over the test period (4 months). FCMT and acupuncture may help patients with sequelae of facial palsy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.123-132
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report a case of erythematotelangiectatic type rosacea and peripheral facial palsy improved by Korean medicine treatment with Soshioho-tang gagambang. Methods : The patient visited our clinic due to facial flushing and peripheral facial palsy symptoms. Based on Sanghallon provision, we treated this case with Soshiho-tang gagambang. The result of treatment was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI) and House-Brackmann Grading System(HBGS). Results : After 12 days of taking Soshiho-tang gagambang, VAS of rosacea was decreased from 9 to 4 and DLQI was decreased from 22 to 5. After treatment, rosacea with facial flushing was improved and HBGS was reduced from 3 to 1. Conclusions : This study shows the possibility of taking Soshiho-tang gagambang for erythematotelangiectatic type rosacea and peripheral facial palsy derived from stress, fatigue and sleep disturbance according to Sanghallon provision.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.204-209
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• 2019

For a minimally invasive approach to access the facial nerve, we designed an extended epitympanotomy via a transmastoid approach that has proven useful in cases of traumatic facial nerve palsy and pre-cholesteatoma. To evaluate the surgical exposure through an extended epitympanotomy, six patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy were enrolled in this study. The same surgical technique was used in all patients. Patients were assessed and the degree of facial nerve paralysis was determined prior to surgery, 1-week post-operatively, and 6-months post-operatively using the House-Brackmann grading system. In all cases, surgical exposure was adequate. All patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy were male and the age range was 13 to 83 years. In all cases, the location of the facial nerve damage was limited to the area between the first and second genu. Symptoms of all the patients improved by 6 months post-operation (p=0.024). There were no complications in any of the patients. Extended epitympanotomy is useful for safe, rapid surgical exposure of the attic area, sparing the patient post-operative dimpling, skin incision complications, and lengthy exposure to anesthesia. We suggest that surgery for patients with facial nerve palsy secondary to trauma be performed using this described technique.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.204-209
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• 2019

For a minimally invasive approach to access the facial nerve, we designed an extended epitympanotomy via a transmastoid approach that has proven useful in cases of traumatic facial nerve palsy and pre-cholesteatoma. To evaluate the surgical exposure through an extended epitympanotomy, six patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy were enrolled in this study. The same surgical technique was used in all patients. Patients were assessed and the degree of facial nerve paralysis was determined prior to surgery, 1-week post-operatively, and 6-months post-operatively using the House-Brackmann grading system. In all cases, surgical exposure was adequate. All patients with traumatic facial nerve palsy were male and the age range was 13 to 83 years. In all cases, the location of the facial nerve damage was limited to the area between the first and second genu. Symptoms of all the patients improved by 6 months post-operation (p=0.024). There were no complications in any of the patients. Extended epitympanotomy is useful for safe, rapid surgical exposure of the attic area, sparing the patient post-operative dimpling, skin incision complications, and lengthy exposure to anesthesia. We suggest that surgery for patients with facial nerve palsy secondary to trauma be performed using this described technique.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2024

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between clinical assessment scales, self-assessment scales, and surface electromyography (SEMG) for facial nerve palsy. Methods: This study assessed 32 cases of facial nerve palsy on the first visit, 11 cases on the second visit, and 9 cases on the third visit to the Korean medicine hospital, university. This study was conducted from October 22, 2022, to December 22, 2022. The patients were evaluated using SEMG, clinical assessment scales, and self-assessment scales 3 times. The House-Brackmann grading systems (HBGS), Yanagihara unweighted grading system (Y-score), facial disability index, numerous rating scale, and accompanying symptoms of facial nerve palsy were used for assessment. Moreover, statistical correlation was analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results: On Visit 1, Significant correlations were observed between the results of SEMG and other clinical assessment scales as well as between SEMG-F (frontalis) and different parts of the Y-score. On Visit 2, significant correlations were observed between the results of SEMG and HBGS as well as between SEMG-F and the detailed parts of the Y-score. On Visit 3, significant correlations were observed only between SEMG-F and the detailed parts of the Y-score. A significant correlation was also observed between the changes in the clinical assessment scales on Visits 1 and 3 and between the changes in SEMG-F and those in the patient self-assessment scales. Conclusion: These findings suggest that SEMG can be used to evaluate facial nerve palsy in conjunction with the use of other clinical assessment scales.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.146-155
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to assess the effectiveness of oriental medical therapy (OM) on acute Bell's palsy, comparing its outcome with that of oriental-western medical therapy (OWM). Methods : Subjects were enrolled atKyung Hee Medical Center from March 2007 to December 2007. We prescribed Igigeopung-san and acupuncture therapy to both the OM and OWM groups, and prednisolone only to the OWM group. Effectiveness was assessed by the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system (HBGS) and Yanagihara's unweighted grading system (YUGS) every week. Results : There were 31 patients in the OM group and 34 in the OWM group. About grading system scores and weekly score gaps, no significant differences were revealed between the two groups, but statistical significant difference was detected at recovery time. After 2 weeks of treatment, the OM group's HBGS score showed significant difference from baseline score, but the OWM group showed it after 1 week. After 3 weeks of medication, pain was reduced in 22% of OM group patients, but 50% in the OWM group (p=0.028). We made the same comparison study for patients treated within 4 days from onset, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. 3 cases of adverse effect of hyperglycemia were found in the OWM group, which could be due to hyperglycemic side-effect of prednisolone. Conclusion : This work could help us to understand the effectiveness of OM compared to OWM on acute Bell's palsy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.199-207
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture therapy with Hominis Placenta pharmacopncture therapy in hospitalized patients with peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : We investigated 34 cases of patients with peripheral facial paralysis who were admitted into the Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion of Dongshin University Suncheon Oriental Hospital from February 1, 2014 to June 31, 2015. Subjects were divided into two groups, Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture group(HR group), and Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture group(JH group). HR group was treated by Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture five times a week and JH group was treated by Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture five times a week. And both groups were treated by acupuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine therapy, western drug therapy equally. To investigate the effectiveness of treatment, we used House-Brackmann Grading System, Yanagihara's unweighted grading system and Sunnybrook facial grading scale at before admission and after admission. Results : Each scores by 3 evaluation methods improved both in two groups. However, there were no significant differences in improvement between two groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that the Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture therapy is as effective as Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture therapy to improve symptoms of peripheral facial paralysis.