Application Effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Drug Intervention in Patients With Facial Nerve Palsy and Its Influence on Amplitude and Latency

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the clinical effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) combined with drug intervention in facial nerve palsy, focusing on compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude and latency.

Methods

This retrospective study included 100 patients treated between March 2024 and February 2026. The control group (n = 50) received conventional drug therapy alone, and the observation group (n = 50) received additional TMS. Outcomes included House–Brackmann (HB) grade, Sunnybrook score, clinical efficacy, CMAP amplitude, latency, electroneurography (ENoG) degeneration ratio, and adverse events.

Results

Baseline characteristics were comparable (all P > 0.05). Both groups improved significantly after treatment (P < 0.001). Compared with controls, the observation group had significantly better post-treatment HB grade (2.53 ± 0.74 vs. 2.98 ± 0.81, P = 0.005) and Sunnybrook score (67.9 ± 11.8 vs. 58.6 ± 12.4, P < 0.001). The observation group also showed a higher overall response rate (90.0% vs. 76.0%, P = 0.037) and a higher proportion of patients with ≥2 level HB improvement (62.0% vs. 42.0%, P = 0.045). Electrophysiologically, the observation group had higher posttreatment CMAP amplitude (1.39 ± 0.36 vs. 1.18 ± 0.33 mV, P = 0.003), shorter latency (4.54 ± 0.72 vs. 4.96 ± 0.79 ms, P = 0.007), and lower ENoG degeneration ratio (33.6 ± 12.7% vs. 41.8 ± 13.5%, P = 0.002). Improvements from baseline in all measures were significantly greater in the observation group. No serious adverse events occurred; the overall incidence did not differ significantly between groups (10.0% vs. 4.0%, P = 0.238).

Conclusion

TMS combined with drug intervention was associated with better clinical recovery and improved electrophysiological outcomes in facial nerve palsy than drug therapy alone, with an acceptable safety profile. Given the retrospective single-center design, prospective multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords

facial nerve palsy transcranial magnetic stimulation drug intervention compound muscle action potential latency retrospective study

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