Role of Electrical Stimulation Added To Conventional Therapy in Patients With Traumatic Facial Palsy

Abstract

Background: Facial nerve palsy can have ophthalmological, Otological, rhinological, taste, and swallowing consequences, in addition to the psychological impact of altered facial expression. Electrical Stimulation (ES) is one of the most debatable and non-evidence-based adjunctive therapies for facial palsy. MATERIAL/METHODS We retrieved the literature on ES in facial nerve injury using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Emphasis was placed on articles and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published within the last 20 years. Results: The reviewed studies, clinical trials and systematic reviews did not support ES due to a lack of quality evidence to support significant b e n e fi t o r h a r m fr o m E S . T h e v a ri e d methodologies used and the small number of subjects included in the studies could not wholly prove the efficacy of electrotherapy for treating facial nerve injury. CONCLUSION T h o u g h m a n y s t u d i e s h a v e r e p o rt e d improvement of facial movement or function following ES for facial nerve injury, substantial evidence supporting the use of ES in facial palsy is lacking; well-designed rigorous research is required. KEYWORDS Electrical Stimulation, Facial Nerve Palsy, Facial Paralysis