A Clinical Study of Collaboration between Western and Korean Medicine for the Treatment of Peripheral Facial Palsy in a Korean Medicine Hospital

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and direction of treatment for peripheral facial palsy (PFP) based on medical collaboration between Western and Korean medicine departments. Methods: There were 195 outpatients with PFP identified retrospectively by examining electronic medical records. These patients were treated with Korean and Western medicine from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018 at the Kyung Hee University hospital. Records were analyzed according to the patients’ demographic characteristics and clinical features of the collaborative combined treatment. Results: According to the collaborative treatment pathway, the number of patients consulted from Western medicine departments was more than consulted from Korean department for the first time. The time taken by the Western medicine departments to consult with the patients at the Korean center for the first time was 14.9 days from the onset of symptoms. Acupuncture was the most frequently used Korean medicine treatment. The total treatment period for Korean medicine sessions and intervals were 91.9 days, 23 times and 3.6 days, respectively. When the Korean medicine center consulted with Western medicine departments, the time taken until the first consultation was 8.5 days from the onset of symptoms. Medication was the most used treatment, prescribed after 3.1 days. The most frequently used clinical test was an electromyogram, and this was performed after 20.5 days. The total treatment period, sessions and intervals were 21.2 days, 2.8 times and 5 days, respectively. Conclusion: The clinical status of collaborative treatment for PFP was determined including the timing and interval of consultation according to treatments.