RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Peripheral Facial Palsy (PFP) is a facial paralysis with various etiologies, including idiopathic causes (Bell's palsy), infections, trauma, and genetic factors. Traditional treatments involve antiviral medications, corticosteroids, and physiotherapy. However, new therapies, such as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), are emerging with promising results. METHODS: This case series reports on two patients with PFP treated with LLLT combined with Vitamin B1, B6, and B12 supplementation. The first case involved a 52-year-old female with PFP due to a viral infection. The second case was a 33-year-old male who developed PFP following a traumatic brain injury. Both patients received LLLT sessions every two weeks, targeting 10 points along the facial nerve pathway from the facial notch across the face. The laser device used was the Theraphy EC (DMC, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil), with each point receiving 4 Joules of energy applied perpendicular to the skin after cleaning the face with water and soap to remove lipids that could interfere. The administration of Vitamin B was done using NEUROBIONTA tablets (Vitamin B1 + Vitamin B6 + Vitamin B12; Procter & Gamble, Santiago, Chile) with one tablet taken daily for 30 days. RESULTS: After six to seven sessions, both patients showed significant improvement in facial muscle function and overall facial symmetry. In the first case, improvements were noted in muscle tonicity and facial movements, with the patient reporting reduced facial disfigurement. In the second case, notable recovery in facial mobility and symmetry was observed, with the patient experiencing decreased paresthesia and restored muscle functionality. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that LLLT, combined with Vitamin B1, B6, and B12 supplementation, may effectively improve facial muscle function and symmetry in PFP patients. The non-invasive nature and ease of application make LLLT a viable option for PFP treatment. Further studies with larger sample sizes and standardized protocols are necessary to confirm these results and establish LLLT as a standard treatment for PFP.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A clinical trial was conducted to measure the effectiveness of a combined wavelength of 660 nm and 808 nm Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in reducing postoperative pain in partially and totally edentulous patients who underwent dental implant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 20 blinded individuals divided in a randomized split-mouth fashion; the experimental group in one hemiarch and the control group in the other hemiarch. The experimental group received a total of 22.5 Joules (J) of LLLT divided into 5 points per implant immediately after surgery. The control group received a placebo treatment. At 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days, a blinded surveyor administered a pain questionnaire using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) combined with a Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) to assess pain onset after surgery, duration of the first pain episode, and pain evolution. Group data were analyzed with an ANOVA test for repeated measures and a paired t-test at defined time intervals. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant decrease in postoperative pain at 24 h and at 72 h for fully edentulous patients. There was a non-significant difference in the duration of the first pain episode. The mean pain levels decreased over time for both the experimental and control treatments, but only statistically significantly for the experimental group in the 24-72 h and 24 h to 7 days intervals. The same was true for the control group when comparing 24 and 72 h and between 24 h and 1 week. The time range between 72 h and 1 week showed no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, a single dose of 22.5 J LLLT per implant helps to decrease postoperative pain in dental implant surgery at 24 h for partially edentulous patients and at 24 and 72 h for fully edentulous patients.
RESUMEN
Caroli's disease consists of a congenital malformation of the intrahepatic bile ducts characterized by saccular, segmental, cystic dilatations giving rise to recurrent cholangitis. The inheritance pattern is unclear and the disease may be associated with other hereditary diseases such as adult polycystic kidney disease. The most effective therapeutic option in symptomatic unilobar Caroli's disease is resection of the affected lobe. In bilobar involvement, liver transplantation should be considered. Due to their rarity, we report three cases of Caroli's disease successfully resolved through lobectomy of the affected lobe: two patients with recurrent cholangitis and one patient with associated adult polycystic kidney disease.