Electroacupuncture therapy appears to be beneficial in treating intractable facial paralysis, significantly improving the cure rate without reported adverse events.
The method involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies (engaging 1,119 participants) related to electroacupuncture treatment for intractable facial paralysis, procured from seven databases. The studies assessed were published up to November 30, 2022, and their bias risk varied. Primary measures examined include the total effective rate, cure rate, and various scoring systems like Portmann, House-Brackmann, and Sunnybrook scores, alongside the occurrence of adverse events.
The results showed that electroacupuncture was more effective in improving the total effective rate and the cure rate in the case of intractable facial paralysis compared to non-electroacupuncture counterparts. Interestingly, none of the studies reported any adverse events associated with the therapy. However, the lack of sufficient evidence to evaluate its safety and follow-up effect remains a concern.
