Electroacupuncture for the treatment of infraorbital nerve injury caused by zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture: a case report

BACKGROUND: Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures often lead to infraorbital nerve (ION) injury, which is characterized by facial numbness and sensory impairment. For patients with poor surgical outcomes or those refusing surgery, effective alternative interventions are required. In this paper, we report the clinical outcome of Electroacupuncture (EA) in a patient with ION injury caused by ZMC fracture. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 36-year-old East Asian (Han Chinese) woman presented with persistent numbness of the left zygomatic face, nose, upper lip, and gums due to infraorbital nerve injury after a left ZMC fracture. The patient refused surgery and underwent 8 weeks of EA treatment (3 times per week) at selected points including GV26, left ST2, SI18, and bilateral LI4, supplemented by 2-Hz continuous wave electrical stimulation. After treatment, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test (SWMT) values were reduced, two-point discrimination perception (2PD) was shortened, visual analog scores (VAS) were reduced, and electrophysiological tests showed significant improvement in nerve conduction latency and wave amplitude on the affected side. After 3 months of follow-up, the patient was left with only a slight numbness of the upper gingiva on the affected side. CONCLUSIONS: EA can improve the symptoms of ION injury after ZMC fracture. This study is a single-case report, and further large-sample studies are needed to verify the efficacy of EA.