Two Electroacupuncture Waveforms for Different Severity Groups of Bell Palsy

NCT ID: NCT06063954

Last Updated: 2024-10-21

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-15

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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Bell palsy (BP) is the most common cause of acute facial palsy, which leads to functional and esthetic disturbances for patients and results in a lowered quality of life. Electroacupuncture (EA) received attention as an alternative and complementary treatment method. The low-frequency continuous wave EA and the intermittent wave EA have been used in the management of BP. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of these two electroacupuncture waveforms for different severity groups of BP.

Detailed Description

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The investigators will recruit 60 patients with BP whose ENoG test indicate a mild to moderate facial nerve damage, as indicated by the ratio of amplitude of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the affected side comparing to normal side is 20% or higher. And the investigators will recruit 60 patients with BP whose ENoG test indicate a severe damage, as indicated by the ratio of amplitude of the CMAP of the affected side comparing to normal side is less than 20%. Both the two types of patients will be randomly divided into either the low-frequency continuous wave group, or the intermittent wave group, and receive 4 weeks treatment. The primary outcomes is change from baseline score of the Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0. The secondary outcomes are change from baseline score of the Sunnybrook grading scale, and change from baseline value of the amplitude of the CMAP of the affected side in the ENoG test.

Conditions

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Bell Palsy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Low-frequency continuous wave group

Low-frequency continuous wave EA In each treatment session, the subjects will receive EA treatment. The selected acupoints for needling will be BL2, GB1, GB14, ST2, SI18, ST6, ST4, ST7, SJ17, EX-HN16, EX-HN5, on affected side, and LI4, bilaterally. After the de-qi sensation is achieved, electrical stimulator will be connected to BL2-GB1, and ST4-ST6, and 2Hz continuous wave will be used for 20 min.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

electroacupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a form of acupuncture in which a weak electric current is passed through the acupuncture needles into acupoints in the skin.

Intermittent wave group

Intermittent wave EA In each treatment session, the subjects will receive EA treatment. The selected acupoints for needling will be BL2, GB1, GB14, ST2, SI18, ST6, ST4, ST7, SJ17, EX-HN16, EX-HN5, on affected side, and LI4, bilaterally. After the de-qi sensation is achieved, electrical stimulator will be connected to BL2-GB1, and ST4-ST6, and 40Hz intermittent wave will be used for 20 min.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

electroacupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a form of acupuncture in which a weak electric current is passed through the acupuncture needles into acupoints in the skin.

Interventions

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electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a form of acupuncture in which a weak electric current is passed through the acupuncture needles into acupoints in the skin.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosed as BP by specialist.
2. The score of FNGS 2.0 ≥ 15 at the day 21 since the onset of BP.
3. 18 years ≤ age ≤ 65 years.
4. Received prednisolone within 72 hours since initial symptoms of BP, the prednisolone dose used was 60 mg per day for 5 days and then reduced by 10 mg per day.
5. Signed informed consent and volunteered to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Facial palsy caused by other diseases or injury.
2. Ramsey-Hunt syndrome.
3. Bilateral facial palsy.
4. History of previous facial palsy.
5. Manifesting facial spasm, facial synkinesis or contracture at day 21 since the onset of BP.
6. History of surgery on face.
7. Combined with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, serious heart, liver, kidney damage or cognitive impairment, aphasia, mental disorders.
8. Installing pacemakers.
9. Pregnant and lactating patients.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Zhejiang University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jing Sun

Deputy Chief physician of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Jing Sun, MD, Ph.D

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Locations

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The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Site Status RECRUITING

The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Hangzhou First People' s Hospital, Hangzhou

Hangzhou, Zhejing, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Jing Sun, MD, Ph.D

Role: CONTACT

86-13429610268

Zhiyuan Bian

Role: CONTACT

86-18668128321

Facility Contacts

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Binyan Yu, PhD

Role: primary

86-13758271294

Jing Sun, MD, Ph.D

Role: primary

86-13429610268

Zhiyuan Bian

Role: backup

86-18668128321

Yan Shi, PhD

Role: primary

13867439433

References

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Liu ZD, He JB, Guo SS, Yang ZX, Shen J, Li XY, Liang W, Shen WD. Effects of electroacupuncture therapy for Bell's palsy from acute stage: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2015 Aug 25;16:378. doi: 10.1186/s13063-015-0893-9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26303741 (View on PubMed)

Xu SB, Huang B, Zhang CY, Du P, Yuan Q, Bi GJ, Zhang GB, Xie MJ, Luo X, Huang GY, Wang W. Effectiveness of strengthened stimulation during acupuncture for the treatment of Bell palsy: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. 2013 Apr 2;185(6):473-9. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.121108. Epub 2013 Feb 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23439629 (View on PubMed)

Kim SH, Ryu EW, Yang CW, Yeo SG, Park MS, Byun JY. The prognostic value of electroneurography of Bell's palsy at the orbicularis oculi versus nasolabial fold. Laryngoscope. 2016 Jul;126(7):1644-8. doi: 10.1002/lary.25709. Epub 2015 Oct 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26466560 (View on PubMed)

Baugh RF, Basura GJ, Ishii LE, Schwartz SR, Drumheller CM, Burkholder R, Deckard NA, Dawson C, Driscoll C, Gillespie MB, Gurgel RK, Halperin J, Khalid AN, Kumar KA, Micco A, Munsell D, Rosenbaum S, Vaughan W. Clinical practice guideline: Bell's palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Nov;149(3 Suppl):S1-27. doi: 10.1177/0194599813505967.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24189771 (View on PubMed)

Marotta N, Demeco A, Inzitari MT, Caruso MG, Ammendolia A. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and shortwave diathermy in unrecovered Bell palsy: A randomized controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Feb;99(8):e19152. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019152.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32080092 (View on PubMed)

Gokce Kutuk S, Ozkan Y, Topuz MF, Kutuk M. The Efficacy of Electro-Acupuncture Added to Standard Therapy in the Management of Bell Palsy. J Craniofac Surg. 2020 Oct;31(7):1967-1970. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000006537.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32472874 (View on PubMed)

Vrabec JT, Backous DD, Djalilian HR, Gidley PW, Leonetti JP, Marzo SJ, Morrison D, Ng M, Ramsey MJ, Schaitkin BM, Smouha E, Toh EH, Wax MK, Williamson RA, Smith EO; Facial Nerve Disorders Committee. Facial Nerve Grading System 2.0. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2009 Apr;140(4):445-50. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2008.12.031.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19328328 (View on PubMed)

Bian Z, Wang J, Fang F, Yu B, Shi Y, Wan Y, Hong M, Ji C, Shao X, Liang Y, Fang J, Sun J. Study protocol for a randomized trial comparing two electroacupuncture waveforms for different severity groups of Bell palsy. Front Neurol. 2024 Nov 20;15:1471605. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1471605. eCollection 2024.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39634773 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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GZY-ZJ-KY-23071-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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