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Effect Of Electrical Stimulation On Facial Grading System In Subjects With Early Facial Palsy

Aim and Purpose: Most patients with facial palsy experience spontaneous recovery by 3 weeks to 3 months. As electrical stimulation is a popular intervention the study was conducted to explore it as an option for enhancing recovery in patients with facial palsy. So the aim of the study was to determine the potential efficacy of applying electrical stimulation to facial nerve trunks in early phase of facial nerve palsy of idiopathic onset. Methodology: The study design was a pretest – post test control V/S experimental group, with a sample size of 50 subjects. Convenient sampling was used and subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. The outcome measure used was the Facial Grading System Score (FGS). The inclusion criteria were males and females aged 15-65 years with a clinical diagnosis of lower motor neuron facial palsy of idiopathic origin of less than 7 days onset. The exclusion criteria were subjects with a known cause of facial palsy with onset less than 7 days. Group A was given heat in the form of Infra Red to the ear and face on affected side for 10 minutes for 1 week. Electrical Stimulation for next 3 weeks to affected facial nerve trunk branches was then given. Parameters used were Surged Faradic Current with pulse duration 0.1ms, pulse frequency 50 Hz, and surge duration: interval ratio was 5:5. Intensity was increased to produce mild contraction of facial muscles stimulated at nerve trunk branch. 15 contractions daily were given. Both Group A and B subjects were explained the condition, taught exercises, and given advices about care required. Subjects in group B were asked to follow up after 4 weeks. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Level of significance was kept at 5%. Results: For group A and B difference in mean values of facial grading system scores at end of 4 weeks was found to be statistically significant (z=4.861, z= 4.016 respectively, p < 0.001). However at the end of 4 weeks difference in median values between the groups was not found to be statistically significant (z=0.420, p=0.675) Conclusion: Outcome demonstrates neither benefit nor harm with electrical stimulation in subjects with early facial palsy. [Sheth M S et al NJIRM 2013; 4(3) : 29-32]