ENT Professor Park’s Team from Seoul St. Mary\'s Hospital of Catholic University of Korea Receives Excellent Presentation Award at International Facial Nerve Symposium

The team led by Park Si-nae, Professor of Otorhinolaryngology, from Seoul St. Mary's Hospital of Catholic University of Korea received the Excellent Presentation Award at the 14th International Facial Nerve Symposium held at Seoul Dragon City in Yongsan. 

Professor Park’s team was honored with the award for presenting the findings of a study in which increased subjective satisfaction among patients and rapid therapeutic effects of Botox injections in patients with facial nerve palsy were observed. 

Facial nerve palsy can be caused by various medical conditions, and accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment are paramount, as it has a direct impact on quality of life. Facial nerve palsy is often treated by high-dose steroid treatment or, in the case of viral infection, administration of an antiviral agent as soon as possible (within 72 hours of onset of paralysis).

Park’s research team evaluated the effectiveness of facial Botox injection treatment for patients with facial nerve palsy to examine the effect of facial Botox treatment on the unaffected side of the face that could be combined with steroid therapy. The study showed that for patients who could not be prescribed steroids or who were not treated within 72 hours of onset of paralysis, effective treatment could be provided using Botox.

Professor Park Si-nae, who led the study, said, “In this study, in which facial Botox injections were administered to patients with facial nerve palsy, the subjective satisfaction of the patients improved and the effectiveness of facial palsy treatment also improved in a statistically significant manner. It also established that Botox injection treatment within 2 weeks of the onset of facial nerve palsy speeds up recovery and boosts the complete recovery rate.” He added, “We expect this study to be of great help to patients suffering from facial nerve palsy.”

The International Facial Nerve Symposium, launched in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1964, is a quadrennial event held across the world, and it was successfully hosted in Korea this year. Despite being held online due to COVID-19, more than 500 facial nerve palsy experts registered and engaged in exchanges. With the participation of these medical professionals specializing in facial nerves, the symposium is driving advances in related research.