ArticleTrials2021
Efficacy and safety of thread embedding acupuncture for facial expression muscles atrophy after peripheral facial paralysis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Article in Trials, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Laser acupuncture and photobiomodulation therapy in Bell's palsy with a duration of greater than 8 weeks: a randomized controlled trial.Lasers in medical science · 2024Trial
- Future innovations for the treatment of facial nerve paralysis.JPRAS open · 2025Review
- Super-Selective Intra-arterial Thrombolytic Therapy for Peripheral Facial Paralysis After Postauricular Hyaluronic Acid Injection for the Esthetic Correction of Lying Ears.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFacial expression muscles atrophy is one kind of sequelae after peripheral facial paralysis. It causes critical problems in facial appearance of patient as well as social and psychological problems. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) for the management of facial expression muscles atrophy after peripheral facial paralysis.
methodsThis is a patient-assessor blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. A total of fifty-six eligible patients will be randomly divided into TEA (n=28) and sham TEA (STEA) (n=28) groups. Both groups will receive TEA or STEA treatment at the frontal muscle and the depressor anguli oris muscle, at one predefined points once a week for eight weeks. Additionally, both groups will receive traditional acupuncture treatment at ten acupoints (GB20, LI4, LR3, GB12, ST7, SI18, LI20, BL2, SJ23, ST4) twice a week for eight weeks as a concurrent treatment. B-mode ultrasonography will be used to assess the changes in facial expression muscle thickness ratio of the affected/healthy side at baseline and at 10 weeks after screening, as the primary outcome. House-Brackmann Grade and lip mobility score will be measured and analyzed at baseline and 4, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after screening, as secondary outcomes. DISCUSSION: The study will compare TEA with sham TEA to explore the feasibility for TEA in improving facial expression muscles atrophy after peripheral facial paralysis.
trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900027170. Registered on 3 November 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=45173&htm=4.
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