A Case of Iatrogenic Infraorbital Neurosensory Disorder and Pe­riph­er­al Facial Nerve Palsy in Which Acupuncture Was Effective

Case summary: A 73-year-old woman complained of numbness of the left upper lip and facial paralysis. After placing two oral implants in the maxillary left molar region, directional malposition and implant misalignment in the maxillary sinus were diagnosed, and two oral implants were removed. Immediately after that, the patient became aware of symptoms of discomfort in his left upper lip, abnormal movement, and water leakage from his nose. Steroids and clarithromycin were prescribed for the maxillary sinus fistula, and maxillary sinus mucosal closure was performed. The patient was referred to our department for improvement of remaining symptoms. The patient was diagnosed with left infraorbital neurosensory disturbance and left peripheral facial nerve palsy. Treatment with methcobalamin prescription, low-level laser stellate ganglion irradiation （SGL）, and near-infrared irradiation were not particularly effective, so acupuncture was further performed. Facial nerve palsy was recovered from 24 to 40 points by the Yanagihara method, and sensory neuropathy was also confirmed to be clearly improved from 1.0g to 0.008g on the affected side in the static tactile threshold test （Semmes Weinstein Monofilament Test: SW test）. The patient was satisfied with the perceived improvement in both sensation and movement. <br>Discussion: Phototherapy, stellate ganglion block, steroid drugs, and vitamin preparations are the main treatments for peripheral motor nerve palsy and sensory disturbance, but acupuncture can also be one of the treatment options. it was thought. <br>Conclusions: Acupuncture appears to be useful for recovery from peripheral nerve injury.