LOW POWER LASER THERAPY AS A COADJUNCT IN THE TREATMENT OF BELL'S PALSY IN POST-PARTUM - CASE REPORT

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology, 2023-07, Vol.136 (1), p.e50-e51
• Main Authors: da Silva, Marina, Alves, Fabiana Bucholdz Teixeira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2212-4403; 2212-4411
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2023.03.153

This case report presents a post-partum woman, three days after delivery, who tasted blood in her mouth, a sensation of a dead tongue, and nasal bleeding. After these symptoms, she also noted paralysis in the left hemiface, difficulties to close the left eye, earaches, and stiffening of the affected hemiface. Herobstetrician subsequently prescribed steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and referred her to a neurologist, who confirmed the diagnosis of Bell's palsy. She underwent nine sessions of physical therapy; however, only discrete changes were noted. A licensed dentist began a laser therapy protocol as a therapeutic treatment, using low power laser with different wavelengths. The patient underwent weekly sessions, and the protocol varied from 1-3 Joules. The red beam was applied to muscle points and an infrared beam to the nervous facial line. As of the sixth session, facial asymmetry was no longer observed, although she still reported feeling some stiffening in some regions; therefore, an additional 11 sessions were applied to reduce these symptoms.