Photobiomodulation Therapy for Idiopathic Facial Paralysis

Photobiomodulation Therapy for Idiopathic Facial Paralysis: Randomized Trial Controlled

Objective:

Bell's palsy is characterized by acute, unilateral onset that compromises function and esthetics, exerting a considerable impact on the social, professional, and psychological aspects of the lives of affected individuals. Without treatment, 30% of patients with complete paralysis will not completely recover. Therefore, shortening the recovery time will accelerate the recovery process leading to better results.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the patients undergoing Bell's palsy.

Methods:

This study was an open-label, randomized controlled trial including 96 patients that undergoing Bell's palsy.

Patients were assigned to the PBMT group and control group, with 48 patients in each group. PBMT group were received 12 sessions of PBMT (3 times per week), while control group were received prednisolone treatment.

Clinical outcome measure comprised the House-Brackmann grading system, Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE), Sunnybrook facial grading scale (SBFG), and electrophysiological testing, including Electroneuronography (ENoG), Electromyography (EMG) and Blink Reflex. All the measurements were collected at the first day and at the end of study. All reported P values were two-sided and were declared statistically significant when less than 0.05.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Bell's Palsy
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: MLS laser; Drug: Prednisolone Acetate

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 96
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing, China
    • Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• (1) Adults over 18 years of age and under 60 years of age. (2) The patients were informed and signed the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

- (1) Planning for pregnancy, in pregnancy or lactation. (2) Greater than 90% denervation on ENoG. (3) No voluntary EMG activity. (4) Systemic disease, such as severe diabetes, malignant tumors and other serious consumptive diseases.

(5) Serious mental illness or social problems, and neurological disorders. (6) Planning for pregnancy, in pregnancy or lactation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: PBMT Group; Treatments were performed with MLS laser (Mphi laser, ASA Srl, Italy). MLS laser is a class IV NIR laser with two synchronized sources (laser diodes). The first one is a pulsed laser diode, emitting at 905 nm, with 25 W peak power. The second laser diode (808 nm) was operated in a continuous mode with power 1 W. Both of the laser beams were synchronized, the locked waves work within the range 1-2000 Hz.	Device: MLS laser; Treatments were performed with MLS laser (Mphi laser, ASA Srl, Italy). MLS laser is a class IV NIR laser with two synchronized sources (laser diodes). The first one is a pulsed laser diode, emitting at 905 nm, with 25 W peak power. The second laser diode (808 nm) was operated in a continuous mode with power 1 W. Both of the laser beams were synchronized, the locked waves work within the range 1-2000 Hz.
Active Comparator: Control Group; Control group were received prednisolone acetate treatment, took prednisolone acetate 24 mg once a day for 1 week.	Drug: Prednisolone Acetate; control group were received prednisolone acetate treatment, took prednisolone acetate 24 mg once a day for 1 week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading System	The House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system (HB grading) is based on a 6-grade score that offers a gross evaluation of facial motor function and includes the evaluation of sequelae. The prognoses of patients with House-Brackmann grade I or grade II were considered good, and the prognoses of those with grade 3 or higher were considered poor.	Change from Baseline number of pathological HB grading at 4-weeks in post-therapy.
The Sunnybrook Facial Grading System	The Sunnybrook facial grading system (SB grading) is 13-items, self-reported questionnaire that used to evaluate the facial movement of patients. Among the overall 13 items of question, 3 items are resting symmetry, 5 items are symmetry of voluntary movement, and 5 items are synkinesis. Lower scores of Sunnybrook equate to greater severity of facial paralysis symptoms.	Change from Baseline scores of SB grading at at 4-weeks in post-therapy.
Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale	The Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE) is 15-items, self-reported questionnaire that used to assess facial impairment and disability after facial paralysis. Among the overall 15 items of question, FaCE grouped into six independent domains: social function, facial movement, facial comfort, oral function, eye comfort, and lacrimal control. Each using a five-item Likert scale. A participant circles the most appropriate response to a given statement, whereby 1 corresponds to the lowest function and 5 corresponds to the highest function. The total score is ranged 0 (worst) to 100 (best).	Change from Baseline scores of FaCE at at 4-weeks in post-therapy.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blink Reflex	The blink reflex test is to measures the facial nerve since the blink reflex delivers information on facial nerve function with normal trigeminal function. Blink reflex testing involves electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve on the affected side combined with a 2-channel simultaneous sEMG recording from both orbicularis oculi muscles. The exit of the supraorbital nerve in the supraorbital foramen is palpated on the rim of the orbit. Stimulation with 10-20 mA and 0.2 ms duration is used to produce a constant reflex. In blink reflex testing, two responses, R1 and R2, are analyzed. R1 is the fast ipsilateral response of the orbicularis oculi muscle with a latency of about 10-12 ms. The second bilateral response R2 has a latency of about 30-41 ms. The R2 latency differences between both sides higher than 5-8 ms is considered pathologic.	Change from Baseline number of pathological Blink Reflex at 6-months in post-therapy.
Electroneuronography (ENoG)	The goal of the Electroneurography (ENoG) testing is to measure the amount of neural degradation that has occurred distal to the site of facial nerve injury by measuring the muscle response to an electrical stimulus. The testing of ENoG involves recording the compound muscle action potential (CAMP) of the mimetic muscles, including Orbicularis oculi, Frontalis muscle, Orbicularis oris and Zygomaticus muscle. ENoG is performed first on the healthy side of the face and then on the affected side. Nerve damage or nerve fiber degeneration leads to a decrease or loss of the CAMP. The amplitude of the CAMP on the affected side is compared to the CAMP of the healthy side and expressed as percent (amplitude of the paralyzed side divided by the amplitude of the normal side). A side difference of 30% or bigger is considered pathologic.	Change from Baseline amplitude and potential of CAMP and the numbers of pathological ENoG at at 4-weeks in post-therapy.
Electromyography (EMG)	EMG is an electrophysiologic measures that indirectly quantify facial nerve function by recording motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) in the muscle of Musculus depressor angulli oris, Frontalis muscle and Orbicularis oris. MUAPs are the spikes in electrical activity generated when a motor unit fires. A motor unit consists of a motor neuron and the corresponding muscle fibers innervated by the neuron.	Change from Baseline amplitude and duration of MUAPs at at 4-weeks in post-therapy.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Beijing Tongren Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 20, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): February 20, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 14, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 14, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): October 18, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 18, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 14, 2022
• Last Verified: February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: RCT; photobiomodulation; Bell's palsy; Idiopathic facial paralysis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Virus Diseases; Infections; Neurologic Manifestations; Stomatognathic Diseases; Mouth Diseases; DNA Virus Infections; Cranial Nerve Diseases; Herpesviridae Infections; Facial Nerve Diseases; Paralysis; Bell Palsy; Facial Paralysis; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiemetics; Gastrointestinal Agents; Glucocorticoids; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Neuroprotective Agents; Protective Agents; Prednisolone; Methylprednisolone Acetate; Methylprednisolone; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate; Prednisolone acetate; Prednisolone hemisuccinate; Prednisolone phosphate
• Other Study ID Numbers: PBMT-IFP-2022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No