The efficacy and safety of acupuncture for Ramsay Hunt syndrome A protocol for systematic review

Background: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS), also known as Hunt syndrome, is caused by varicella-zoster virus infection. The virus often invades the facial nerve geniculate ganglion to cause peripheral facial paralysis, accompanied by severe ear pain, auricular herpes zoster, tinnitus, deafness, vertigo, and other inner ear neurologic symptoms. The acupuncture has a long history as a traditional treatment of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of Hunt syndrome, with few adverse events and low cost. However, there are few evidences for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for Hunt syndrome. Hence, we plan this systematic review and meta-analysis protocol to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for Hunt syndrome. Methods: Four English databases will be searched from their inception to February 2019, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, OVID, and 4 Chinese databases, including Chinese Biomedical Literature Database [CBM], China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], CQVIP, and Wanfang. No restriction was imposed for language or publication period. Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) compared any form of acupuncture with/without additional treatment against sham or no treatment or same additional treatment. Data will be extracted and evaluated by 2 reviewers independently. RevMan 5.3 software will be used for data analysis when a meta-analysis is allowed. Results: This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide an evidence of acupuncture for RHS. Conclusion: This study will determine whether acupuncture is an effective and safe intervention for RHS. PROSPERO registration number: CRD 42019118283.