Impact of central facial palsy and dysarthria on quality of life in patients with stroke: The KOSCO study

A prospective study of Acupuncture Combined With Modified Blood and Vessel Expelling Blood Stasis Tang in Treating Poststroke Facial Paralysis With Insomnia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with modified Blood and Vessel Expelling Blood Stasis Tang in the treatment of poststroke patients experiencing facial paralysis and insomnia.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients with poststroke facial paralysis and insomnia were selected from the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion at the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2021 and January 2023. They were randomly assigned to either a control group or a study group, with 60 patients in each group. The control group received conventional treatment, while the study group received acupuncture combined with modified Blood and Vessel Expelling Blood Stasis Tang. The neurological function, facial paralysis, and sleep quality of the patients in both groups were compared.

RESULTS

The study group exhibited a significantly higher total effective rate compared with the control group (86.67% versus 66.67%). After treatment, both groups showed a significant reduction in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, with the study group demonstrating significantly lower scores than the control group. The Functional Disability Index scores for somatic functioning and social life functioning significantly improved in both groups after treatment, with the study group achieving significantly lower scores compared with the control group. The Sleep-Related Symptom Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores significantly decreased in both groups after treatment, with the study group achieving significantly lower scores than the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture combined with modified Blood and Vessel Expelling Blood Stasis Tang effectively promotes recovery of neurological function and significantly improves facial paralysis and insomnia in patients with poststroke facial paralysis and insomnia. However, further research is warranted to validate these findings.

Bionic blink improves real-time eye closure in unilateral facial paralysis

Facial paralysis is the inability to move facial muscles thereby impairing the ability to blink and make facial expressions. Depending on the localization of the nerve malfunction it is subcategorised into central or peripheral and is usually unilateral. This leads to health deficits stemming from corneal dryness and social ostracization.Objective: Electrical stimulation shows promise as a method through which to restore the blink function and as a result improve eye health. However, it is unknown whether a real-time, myoelectrically controlled, neurostimulating device can be used as assistance to this pathological condition.Approach: We developed NEURO-BLINK, a wearable robotic system, that can detect the volitional healthy contralateral blink through electromyography and electrically stimulate the impaired subcutaneous facial nerve and orbicularis oculi muscle to compensate for lost blink function. Alongside the system, we developed a method to evaluate optimal electrode placement through the relationship between blink amplitude and injected charge.Main results: Ten patients with unilateral facial palsy were enrolled in the NEURO-BLINK study, with eight completing testing under two conditions. (1) where the stimulation was cued with an auditory signal (i.e. paced controlled) and (2) synchronized with the natural blink (i.e. myoelectrically controlled). In both scenarios, overall eye closure (distance between eyelids) and cornea coverage measured with high FPS video were found to significantly improve when measured in real-time, while no significant clinical changes were found immediately after use.Significance: This work takes steps towards the development of a portable medical device for blink restoration and facial stimulation which has the potential to improve long-term ocular health.

The role of oral and pharyngeal motor exercises in post-stroke recovery: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To analyze intervention goals, protocols, and outcome measures used for oral and pharyngeal motor exercises in post-stroke recovery.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Cochrane databases were searched in September 2022.

METHODS

Studies were included if they (1) recruited post-stroke adult patients, (2) administered exercises for the oral and/ or pharyngeal muscles, and (3) reported results at baseline and post-exercise. The extracted data included intervention goals, protocols, and outcomes. All outcomes were classified according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

RESULTS

A total of 26 studies were identified. Their intervention goals aimed to rehabilitate a broad spectrum of muscle groups within the oral cavity and pharynx and to improve the functions of swallowing, speech, facial expressions, or sleep breathing. Protocol duration ranged from 1 to 13 weeks, with various exercise repetitions (times per day) and frequency (days per week). Half of the studies reported using feedback to support the training, and these studies varied in the feedback strategy and technology tool. A total of 37 unique outcome measures were identified. Most measures represented the body functions and body structure component of the ICF, and several of these measures showed large treatment effects.

CONCLUSIONS

This review demonstrated inconsistency across published studies in intervention goals and exercise protocols. It has also identified current limitations and provided recommendations for the selection of outcome measures while advancing a multidisciplinary view of oral and pharyngeal exercises in post-stroke recovery across relevant functions.

Physical rehabilitation of central facial palsy: A survey of current multidisciplinary practice

Purpose: The role of allied health practitioners providing physical rehabilitation of central facial palsy (CFP) is minimally reported in the literature. This study explores current practice and the roles, attitudes and perceptions of allied health professionals (AHPs) working with people with CFP.Method: An electronic survey was distributed to speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Responses (n = 78) were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods.Result: SLPs often lead management of CFP; however, their role is not clearly defined nor well recognised. Several barriers were identified which prevent AHPs from providing consistent specialist rehabilitation to people with CFP. These included a lack of training, no clear delegation of role, limited evidence and lack of resources.Conclusion: Survey respondents viewed CFP to be within SLP scope of practice; although, ownership of management varies between countries and professions. Most SLPs recognise the negative impact of CFP and feel a sense of responsibility to provide assessment and treatment of this impairment, but many barriers to doing so have been identified. Suggestions to improve access to rehabilitation for people with CFP included increased access to training for SLPs, more evidence, clinical practice guidelines and more clinical resources. Further research is required to ensure people suffering from CFP can access services that provide skilled management of their impairment.

A Comprehensive Approach to Facial Reanimation: A Systematic Review

Purpose: To create a systematic overview of the available reconstructive techniques, facial nerve grading scales, physical evaluation, the reversibility of paralysis, non-reconstructive procedures and medical therapy, physical therapy, the psychological aspect of facial paralysis, and the prevention of facial nerve injury in order to elucidate the gaps in the knowledge and discuss potential research aims in this area. A further aim was to propose an algorithm simplifying the selection of reconstructive strategies, given the variety of available reconstructive methods and the abundance of factors influencing the selection. Methodological approach: A total of 2439 papers were retrieved from the Medline/Pubmed and Cochrane databases and Google Scholar. Additional research added 21 articles. The primary selection had no limitations regarding the publication date. We considered only papers written in English. Single-case reports were excluded. Screening for duplicates and their removal resulted in a total of 1980 articles. Subsequently, we excluded 778 articles due to the language and study design. The titles or abstracts of 1068 articles were screened, and 134 papers not meeting any exclusion criterion were obtained. After a full-text evaluation, we excluded 15 papers due to the lack of information on preoperative facial nerve function and the follow-up period. This led to the inclusion of 119 articles. Conclusions: A thorough clinical examination supported by advanced imaging modalities and electromyographic examination provides sufficient information to determine the cause of facial palsy. Considering the abundance of facial nerve grading scales, there is an evident need for clear guidelines regarding which scale is recommended, as well as when the postoperative evaluation should be carried out. Static procedures allow the restoral of facial symmetry at rest, whereas dynamic reanimation aims to restore facial movement. The modern approach to facial paralysis involves neurotization procedures (nerve transfers and cross-facial nerve grafts), muscle transpositions, and microsurgical free muscle transfers. Rehabilitation provides patients with the possibility of effectively controlling their symptoms and improving their facial function, even in cases of longstanding paresis. Considering the mental health problems and significant social impediments, more attention should be devoted to the role of psychological interventions. Given that each technique has its advantages and pitfalls, the selection of the treatment approach should be individualized in the case of each patient.

The deterioration of oral function and orofacial appearance mediated the relationship between tooth loss and depression among community-dwelling older adults: A JAGES cohort study using causal mediation analysis

BACKGROUND

Depression is a major health problem among older adults, for which previous studies have suggested tooth loss as a risk factor. This study examined the mediating effect of oral function and orofacial appearance in the relationship between tooth loss and depression.

METHODS

This three-year follow-up longitudinal study was based on a self-reported questionnaire targeting community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. We used the incidence of depressive symptoms during follow-up as the outcome, the number of remaining teeth (≥20/≤19) as the exposure, and the deterioration of oral function and orofacial appearance (speaking, smiling, and eating) as mediators. We fitted the logistic regression model including confounders and calculated the natural indirect effect (NIE), natural direct effect, and the proportion mediated (PM) by the deterioration of oral functions by applying the causal mediation analysis framework.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 8,875 participants was 72.7 years (1SD=5.5) and 48.0% were male. Depressive symptoms developed during follow-up in 11.5% of the participants (n=1,024). The incidence for those with ≤19 and ≥20 remaining teeth was 13.1% and 9.2%, respectively. Total effect of fewer remaining teeth (≤19) on depressive symptoms was OR=1.30 (95%CI=1.12-1.51). Difficulty in speaking (NIE OR=1.03, 95%CI=1.00-1.06, PM=12.4%), problems in smiling (NIE OR=1.04, 95%CI=1.01-1.07, PM=16.9%), and difficulty in chewing (NIE OR=1.05, 95%CI=1.02-1.09, PM=21.9%) significantly mediated the relationship.

LIMITATION

Selection bias due to dropout.

CONCLUSION

Deterioration of oral function and orofacial appearance were mediating factors of the mechanism for the relationship between tooth loss and the incidence of depressive symptoms.

Assessment and rehabilitation interventions for central facial palsy in patients with acquired brain injury: a systematic review

Objectives: To do a systematic review covering assessments and interventions for central facial palsy (CFP) in patients with acquired brain injury.Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were screened until April 2019. Assessments were defined as clinical- and instrumental tools and rating scales. Interventions were defined as rehabilitation interventions alleviating CFP.Results: 690 articles were screened based on the title and abstract. Interrater agreement was 98.12%. Sixteen articles were included: six clinical trials and 10 observational studies. Assessment: Commonest scale for assessing CFP was the House-Brackmann facial nerve Grading System. Strain gauges for measuring lip and cheek strength were applied in five studies and neurophysiological methods of assessing motor neuron pathways were applied in three studies. Interventions: An oral screen for improving lip strength was reported in three studies. Other interventions reported were neuromuscular electrical stimulation, Castillo Morales therapy, mirror therapy, exercises with electromyography feedback, and acupuncture.Conclusions: Scales for assessing peripheral facial palsy were applied for assessing CFP. Based on neurophysiological differences in the manifestation of peripheral facial palsy and CFP, these scales should be validated in patients with CFP. More studies on interventions for CFP are required before conclusions may be drawn about their effectiveness.

Integrative traditional Korean medicine management, including acupuncture and Chuna-manual therapy, for stroke-related central facial palsy: A study of three case reports

Central facial palsy, which is a sequela of stroke, is associated with decreased quality of life and psychosocial function. Integrative Korean medicine management, including acupuncture and Chuna-manual therapy, has been used to treat neurological diseases, including facial palsy. We report three cases of central facial palsy patients who had these symptoms over three months after a stroke. They had received rehabilitation treatment for the paralyzed upper and lower extremities. However, as their central facial palsy symptom did not improve, Chuna-manual therapy (SJS nonresistance technique) for facial palsy was started along with acupuncture. Oral region movement improved after four weeks of integrative acupuncture and Chuna-manual therapy. After ten to sixteen weeks of treatment, the facial nerve grading system 2.0 grades improved by one in two cases. In one case, although there was no significant change in the grade, she was satisfied with the results after adding Chuna-manual therapy to acupuncture. There were no adverse events. Integrative management, including acupuncture and Chuna-manual therapy, might be an effective treatment strategy for central facial palsy. Further prospective, controlled studies are warranted.

A Systematic Review of Physical Rehabilitation of Facial Palsy

Background: Facial palsy is a frequent and debilitating sequela of stroke and brain injury, causing functional and aesthetic deficits as well as significant adverse effects on quality of life and well-being. Current literature reports many cases of acquired facial palsy that do not recover spontaneously, and more information is needed regarding the efficacy of physical therapies used in this population. Methods: A systematic search of eight electronic databases was performed from database inception to December 2018. Gray literature searches were then performed to identify additional articles. Studies were included if they addressed physical rehabilitation interventions for adults with acquired facial palsy. Reasons for exclusion were documented. Independent data extraction, quality assessment, and risk of bias assessment followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results: Following abstract screening, a total of 13 full-text articles were identified for independent screening by two reviewers. This included four randomized control trials, two non-randomized control trials, one cohort study, and six prospective case series studies. Twelve out of the 13 included studies reported on facial palsy as a sequela of stroke. A total of 539 participants received intervention for facial palsy across the 13 included studies. Therapy design, length and frequency of intervention varied across the studies, and a wide range of outcome measures were used. Improvement on various outcome measures was reported across all 13 studies. The quality of the evidence was low overall, and most studies were found to have high risk of bias. Conclusions: All the studies in this review report improvement of facial movement or function following application of various methods of physical rehabilitation for facial palsy. Methodological limitations and heterogeneity of design affect the strength of the evidence and prevent reliable comparison between intervention methods. Strong evidence supporting physical rehabilitation was not found; well-designed rigorous research is required.

Facial motor and non-motor disabilities in patients with central facial paresis: a prospective cohort study

Although central facial paresis (CFP) is a major symptom of stroke, there is a lack of studies on the motor and non-motor disabilities in stroke patients. A prospective cohort study was performed at admission for inpatient rehabilitation and discharge of post-stroke phase of 112 patients (44% female, median age: 64 years, median Barthel index: 70) with CFP. Motor function was evaluated using House-Brackmann grading, Sunnybrook grading and Stennert Index. Automated action unit (AU) analysis was performed to analyze mimic function in detail. Non-motor function was assessed using the Facial Disability Index (FDI) and the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE). Median interval from stroke to rehabilitation was 21 days. Rehabilitation lasted 20 days. House-Brackmann grading was ≥ grade III for 79% at admission. AU activation in the lower face was significantly lower in patients with right hemispheric infarction compared to left hemispheric infarction (all p < 0.05). Median total FDI and FaCE score were 46.5 and 69, respectively. Facial grading and FDI/FaCE scores improved during inpatient rehabilitation (all p < 0.05). There was a significant increase of the activation of AU12 (Zygomaticus major muscle), AU13 (Levator anguli oris muscle), and AU24 (Orbicularis oris muscle) during inpatient rehabilitation (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that activation of AU10 (Levator labii superioris), AU12, AU17 (Depressor labii), and AU 38 (Nasalis) were independent predictors for better quality of life. These results demonstrate that CFP has a significant impact on patient's quality of life. Therapy of CFP with focus on specific AUs should be part of post-stroke rehabilitation.

Factors influencing quality of life in patients followed in the neurosonology laboratory for carotid stenosis

BACKGROUND

Quality of life (QoL) is one of the main endpoints in stroke prevention or acute stroke treatment studies. The aim of the current study was to identify risk factors affecting the QoL of patients with carotid stenosis in stroke prevention.

METHODS

Self-sufficient patients (50-80 years of age) with ≥20% carotid artery stenosis followed in the neurosonology laboratory, and without any severe illnesses within the last 12 months, dementia, or psychiatric disorders were selected for the study after signing informed consent. Patients completed two standardized QoL questionnaires (WHOQoL-BREF and EQ-5D-3 L) and a visual pain scale, provided covariate variables (medication, age, gender, education, and social situation), and the blood pressure and body mass indexes were recorded. Logistic regression (forward stepwise method) was used to identify factors affecting the individual domains of QoL questionnaires.

RESULTS

Of the 584 consecutive patients, 502 met the inclusion criteria and 344 completely filled both QoL questionnaires (164 men; mean age, 69.7 ± 7.8 years). An independent predictor of worse QoL in all domains was pain. Independent factors decreasing the QoL were lower level of education and blood pressure in the physical health domain, female gender in the psychological domain, and male gender in the social relationships domain. Independent factors decreasing satisfaction with health status were female gender and higher blood pressure. Factors negatively influencing the satisfaction with the QoL were living alone, lower level of education, and higher diastolic blood pressure (WHOQoL-BREF). Factors negatively influencing mobility were age, male gender, living alone, lower level of education, and higher body mass index (EQ-5D-3 L; p < 0.05 in all cases).

CONCLUSIONS

Pain, blood pressure, body mass index, education, living alone, gender, and age were associated with the QoL in patients with carotid stenosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02360137 . Registered on 26 January 2015.