Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Peripheral Facial Palsy Caused by Wisdom Tooth Extraction: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Peripheral facial palsy is characterized by acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis. While most cases have no identifiable cause, some are linked to infectious or non-infectious factors. The potential connection between herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and peripheral facial palsy has been studied since the 1970s, with a small number of cases reported following tooth extraction. Patients who have treatment delayed for over a year and still exhibit no signs of recovery have a bleak prognosis. In this case, factors contributing to facial paralysis in this patient are facial nerve injury as a result of wisdom teeth extraction, improper nursing, and delayed treatment. Case summary: A 23-year-old female presented with numbness and stiffness on the right side of the outer skin around the lips. These symptoms persisted for about 4 years after the extraction of the right lower wisdom tooth. Physical examination revealed House-Brackmann grade Ⅱ peripheral facial paralysis. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments were initiated with an aim to facilitate nerve repair and neurofacilitation in the affected area. Following a four-week course of treatment, the patient experienced a decrease numbness and stiffness in the area, and treatment was discontinued. Conclusion: The combination of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is a safe and promising supplementary therapy for peripheral facial palsy caused by wisdom tooth extraction. Nevertheless, it is imperative to conduct larger scale and randomized controlled studies to determine whether these complementary interventions have a significant additive or synergistic effect towards achieving complete recovery in the patients.