Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Improvement of Tetraplegia and Respiratory Symptoms with Complex Korean Medicine Treatment After Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report

  • Cho, Eunbyul (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Woo, Hyeonjun (Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Cho, Nam geun (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University)
  • Received : 2020.06.27
  • Accepted : 2020.08.03
  • Published : 2020.11.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study reports the effectiveness of traditional Korean medicine in treating tetraplegia and respiratory symptoms (including dyspnea) after traumatic cervical spinal cord injury surgery. The patient was treated with complex Korean medical treatment including electroacupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine. The manual muscle test (expanded Medical Research Council system) was used to measure the patient's muscle strength. The Korean version of the modified Barthel index and the functional independent measure were used to evaluate the patient's independence in performing daily activities. Following 2 hospitalizations and treatments, the patient's muscle strength improved > 4+ score for all joints, and the Korean version of the modified Barthel index and functional independent measure scores increased from 26 to 79 and 56 to 95, respectively. Symptoms of dyspnea, coughing, and sputum gradually improved and finally disappeared during hospitalization. This study suggests complex Korean medicine treatment may be effective in the rehabilitation of post-surgical cervical spinal cord injury patients.

Keywords

References

  1. The Society of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation. Korean Rehabilitation Medicine, 4th ed. Seoul (Korea): Koonja Publishing Co.; 2015. p. 165, 175, 401. [in Korean].
  2. Han TR, Bang MS, Jung SG. Rehabilitation Medicine, 6th ed. Paju (Korea): Koonja Publishing Co.; 2019. p. 765-786. [in Korean].
  3. Song MY, Jo HG, Kim TG, Choi JB. A case report of complex Korean medical treatment for cervical spinal cord Injury and neurogenic bladder. J Korean Med Rehabil 2016;26:143-151. [in Korean]. https://doi.org/10.18325/jkmr.2016.26.3.143
  4. Choi JW, Bae JM, Kim JK, Lee BR, Yang GY. Effectiveness of combined Korean medicine on traumatic spinal cord injury: A Case Report. J Korean Med 2017;38:110-117. https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.17044
  5. Vallat JM, Weis J. Peripheral nerve disorders: Pathology and genetics. Hoboken (NJ): Wiley Blackwell; 2014. 3 p.
  6. Jung HY, Park BK, Shin HS, Kang YK, Pyun SB, Paik NJ et al. Development of the Korean version of modified Barthel index (K-MBI): Multi-center study for subjects with stroke. J Korean Acad Rehabil Med 2007;31:283-297. [in Korean].
  7. Neurological Diagnosis & Evaluation for Physiotherapy Compilation Committee. Neurological diagnosis & evaluation for physiotherapy, 2nd ed. Seoul (Korea): PanMun Education; 2018. p. 68-71. [in Korean].
  8. Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Society Textbook Compilation Committee. Acupuncture Medicine, 4th ed. Seoul (Korea): Hanmi Medicine Publish Company; 2016. p. 104, 631-632. [in Korean].
  9. Kim EJ, Kim GY. Effects of Hominis Placenta pharmacoacupuncture and electroacupuncture neuroprotection in contused spinal cord of rats. Korean J. Orient Physiol Pathol 2011;25:257-263. [in Korean].
  10. Lee YB, Yun SH, Lim YE, Park JS, Joung TS, Han KH et al. Effects of Dokhwalgisaeng-tang (Duhuojisheng-tang) and Herbar Chelidoni on the cultured spinal motor neurons. J Orient Rehabil Med 2003;13:99-109. [in Korean].
  11. Zhang Q, Yang H, An J, Zhang R, Chen B, Hao DJ. Therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine on spinal cord injury: A promising supplementary treatment in future. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2016;2016:8958721.
  12. Ju YS. Ungok Herbology. Jeonju (Korea): Woosuk press; 2013. 1330 p. [in Korean].
  13. Kim SY, Kim TU, Lee SJ, Hyun JK. Prognosis for patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury combined with cervical radiculopathy. Ann Rehabil Med 2014;38:443-449. https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2014.38.4.443