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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.

Facial nerve palsy refers to sudden, unilateral lower motor neuron facial paralysis. This study aimed to determine the importance of neck treatment in the treatment of facial paralysis. A literature search was performed on six online databases and other sources until January 15, 2023. A total of 426 papers were retrieved. After excluding duplicated and inconsistent papers, papers not including cervical treatment, and experimental papers on animals, two papers were finally selected. The type of treatment method, therapeutic effects, assessment of the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials, and non-randomized controlled trials and side effects were evaluated. Chiropractic, manual therapy, facial meridian massage, and acupotomy were applied to the face and cervical spine region. The results showed that each treatment had a significant therapeutic effect through evaluation index measurement methods, such as the visual analog scale and Yanagihara’s unweighted regional grading system. This study demonstrated the importance of the cervical spine area in the treatment of facial paralysis. However, this study has many limitations. Thus, high-quality randomized controlled comparative studies on the treatment of the cervical spine area only or studies that include cervical spine area treatment as an interventional treatment while performing oriental or comprehensive treatment are needed.

Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a neurological condition/disease characterized by unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles. We report the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment in 2 patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy who developed symptoms 3–4 days following vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and who received oral steroids and antiviral medications. Complex Korean medicine treatments including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, cupping therapy, herbal medicine, and physical therapy were performed. Symptom improvement was evaluated daily using the Numerical Rating Scale, House-Brackmann Grade, and Yanagihara’s Score. Patient 1 was hospitalized for 22 days and Patient 2 visited the outpatient clinic 20 times. In both cases, postauricular pain caused by Bell’s palsy disappeared, and symptoms of facial paralysis improved following completion of treatment. These findings could suggest that combined Korean medicine treatment may improve symptoms of peripheral facial nerve palsy.