Electrotherapy for Treatment of Facial Nerve Paralysis (Bell's Palsy)

摘要

The Office of Health Technology Assessment (OHTA) emphasizes three basic principles in its assessment activities: (1) broad and open participation both within and outside of the Federal government, (2) reliance onthe expertise and research abilities of outside organizations and individuals, and (3) broad dissemination of assessment reports. This assessment focuses on electrotherapy for treatment of facial nerve paralysis (Bell's palsy). Electrotherapy treatment for Bell's palsy has not been demonstrated to be effective through clinical trials. Those studies which have been conducted generally conclude that electrotherapy has no demonstrable beneficial effect in enhancing the functional or cosmetic outcomes in patients with Bell's palsy. To some extent the appeal of this technique stems from studies in which electrical stimulation for muscle disuse, largely in animals, produced improvements in muscle fiber characteristics. Although it is argued that electrical stimulation may serve to prevent muscle atrophy while nerves are regenerated, no evidence exists to suggest that it accomplishes this. Moreover insufficient information exists to suggest which subgroups of patients, if any, are most likely to benefit, or how many treatments administered with what frequency and over what duration are required.