A Case Report of Korean Medicine Treatment for a Patient with Left Facial Palsy Diagnosed with Wegener’s Granulomatosis

Abstract

Background: The study reports the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a patient with left facial palsy caused by Wegener’s granulomatosis.Case information: The patient was receiving steroid treatment for facial palsy and was hospitalized for 21 days. He received acupuncture, electroacupuncture, bee venom pharmacopuncture, and moxibustion treatment along with Ssanghwa-tang and Cheongansohabwon herbal medicine treatment. During hospitalization, the Sunnybrook facial grading scale, House-Brackmann scale and length of time for the eye to completely close were evaluated at 11/16, 11/21, 11/27, 12/1, and 12/6. Post treatment, the degree of the movement in the left eyelid was improved, it took less time for the eye to close completely, the movement of the forehead wrinkle muscles improved, but that of the facial muscles under the eyes and left orbicularis oculi muscle showed little improvement.Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment for facial palsy caused by Wegener’s Granulomatosis helps restore mobility of the forehead and orbicularis oculi muscles.