| 초록 |
Objectives : Facial nerve palsy is a rare but well-known complication that occurs after a tooth extraction. The paralysis follows the injection of a local anesthetic, but patients typically recover after a few hours. However, there are a number of reports of delayed paralysis, and the cause of delayed facial palsy remains uncertain. This study is the first case report detailing how Korean medicine can be used to treat facial nerve palsy following tooth extraction. This study reports our experience of a patient's favorable recovery. Methods : A 25-year-old male patient experienced acute facial palsy after four premolar teeth were extracted. He was hospitalized in the Pusan National University Korean Medical Hospital. We provided complex Korean traditional medical treatments such as acupuncture, cupping, use of a hot water steamer, and herbal medicine for 18 days. Results : Using the Yanagihara Grading Score, we found improvements in the patient's voluntary facial movement as his score increased from 22 to 34. Furthermore, his accompanying symptoms, such as dry eye and facial pain, disappeared. However, the patient reported transient pain around acupoints after the acupuncture intervention. Conclusion : Our study suggests that Korean medical treatments might be effectively used to treat facial nerve palsy after tooth extraction, although further research should be conducted due to the limited number of cases in this area. |
