Is acupuncture beneficial in the treatment of Bell's palsy?: best evidence topic (BET)

International Journal of Surgery
Alex CumberworthSimon Watts

Abstract

A best evidence topic in facial nerve surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: in [patients with Bell's palsy], does [acupuncture] improve [facial nerve function and/or pain]? A total of 43 papers were identified using the reported search protocol, of which three articles represented the best available evidence to answer the clinical question. Two of these articles were review papers and together encompassed 13 primary articles. Publication details, type of study, patients studied, outcomes and results are tabulated. The two level 1 articles concluded that before firm conclusions can be drawn, better designed trials are required in order to establish whether acupuncture confers any benefit to patients with Bell's palsy. The level 2 randomised controlled trial (RCT) suggested that two methods of acupuncture were associated with significant improvements in pain in Bell's palsy, although the trial was poorly controlled and had risk of bias. Therefore, the clinical bottom line is that until well designed trials are able to clearly demonstrate a role for acupuncture in Bell's palsy, its efficacy should be considered to remain unproven.

References

Aug 3, 2007·Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery·Joel DunningKevin Mackway-Jones
Aug 19, 2011·International Journal of Surgery·Omar A KhanKevin Mackway-Jones

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Citations

Oct 9, 2015·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Su-Ping KongDian-Hui Yang
Aug 12, 2014·Global Advances in Health and Medicine : Improving Healthcare Outcomes Worldwide·Alexander DoBrent A Bauer
Mar 31, 2015·International Journal of Surgery·Nigel Tapiwa MabvuureJeremy Neil Rodrigues
Nov 15, 2013·Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·Reginald F BaughWilliam Vaughan
May 31, 2020·The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery·Sinem Gökçe KütükMustafa Kütük

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