Effects of Kabat versus Neuromuscular Re-education Technique on Facial Disability and Synkinesis in Patients with Bell’s Palsy

Background: Bell’s palsy is the most well-known cause of lower motor neuron facial paralysis and is considered the most frequent cranial neuropathy that originates from damage to the seventh cranial nerve. Objective: To compare the Kabat technique with the neuromuscular re-education technique in patients with Bell’s palsy. Methodology: Patients were recruited from the Mayo Hospital Lahore from May to December 2023. Written informed consent was taken before inclusion. The inclusion criteria were as follows: Patients aged between 20-60 years diagnosed with Bell’s palsy non-traumatic origin and onset from 0-6 months. Exclusion criteria were as follows: Psychiatric patients, non-cooperative patients, patients complaining of other neurological deficits, post-surgical patients, and neurotmesis. The current study was approved by the ethical committee of King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan with reference number 301/RC/KEMU, dated 2022-12-2, and the trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with registration number IRCT20220522054955N1 on 2023-01-23. The sample size was calculated using the following formula. Almost 70 patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy were included in this study. Random allocation concealment was carried out using sealed opaque envelopes. Results: After treatment, the facial disability index scores in Group A and Group B were 149.88 and 133.74, respectively. Moreover, the Facial Grading Scale scores in Group A and Group B were 82.02 and 58.08, respectively. The scores were statistically significant in group A compared to group B (p=0.00). Conclusion: The Kabat technique can show more significant results and can better improve the facial grading scale and facial disability index scores in Bell’s palsy patients than the neuromuscular re-education technique.