• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.288-305
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• 2023

Background: The compression therapy, which is the standard treatment for lymphedema patients, may be difficult to implement and contraindicated to some patients depending on their health condition. Objects: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether kinesiology taping (KT) can be used effectively and safely in the management of lymphedema as an alternative treatment through systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: In February 2023, the literature was systematically collected through eight search engines with a combination of terms, 'lymphedema' and 'kinesiology taping.' We qualitatively analyzed the differences and safety of KT methods, and quantitatively meta-analyzed the effects of volume reduction in edema, range of motion (ROM), and pain improvement using Review Manager ver. 5. 4. To assess the risk of bias in the randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, Risk of Bias was used. Results: A total of 616 articles searched and 20 studies were selected, including 12 RCTs and eight case studies. KT intervention could not replace multilayer compression bandage (MLB), but it demonstrated similar or better results compared to compression garment (CG), with reduced pain and improved intervention comfort. Studies reported skin adverse events ranging from 2.5% to 20.68%, with a total adverse event incidence of 7.7%. There was no significant difference in the application method of KT. As a result of the meta-analysis from the 8 RCTs, the KT intervention showed a mean difference (MD) of -7.18 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [-12.64 to -1.72] in the volume change of lymphedema, while the pain difference was MD 0.82 with CI 95% [0.50 to 1.15], in comparison to the MLB and CG intervention. Conclusion: KT therapy led to a reduction in edema size, volume, pain, and improved ROM and quality of life. KT may be a viable option for lymphedema patients who have trouble applying traditional compression therapies.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2005

Objective: We analyze pain relief, deformity correction and complication rate after percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed medical records and radiological findings of 32 patients who underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Results: The patients had significant pain improvement with the procedure. The visual analogue scale score reduced from 8.6 to 3.4 significantly after the procedure. The midline vertebral body height significantly increased postoperatively, but mean kyphotic angle did not. There was no serious complication except one case of epidural cement leakage without neurological impairment. Conclusion: Balloon kyphoplasty safely can reduce severe back pain and returned geriatric patients to higher activity levels. The midline vertebral height is restored significantly. However kyphotic deformity correction is not significant as contrary to what we expected from the present study before it was carried out.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.244-247
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• 2018

Multiple vertebral compression fractures are a rare condition and are a serious consequence of postpartum osteoporosis. This report describes the case of a 35-year-old woman who had given birth to her first child 2 months before the onset of pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed compression fractures of 7 vertebrae. The patient was treated with both conventional, and Korean medicine methods including acupuncture and herbal prescriptions. The patient's progress was assessed using self-reported symptoms, scale scores and laboratory test results. Her pain was gradually alleviated and biochemical inflammation marker levels improved, but her functional status remained severely impaired. Clinical practitioners who treat women in the postpartum period must be aware of osteoporosis and potential vertebral fractures and need to consider Korean medicine as an alternative therapy to help such patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.237-241
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• 2000

Vertebral compression fractures commonly afflict the elderly. Some patients suffer from severe mechanical pain in spite of treatments with strong analgesics and bracing. Vertebroplasty, which was originally used for vertebral hemangioma, is effective for patients who do not respond to these more conservative treatments. However, the procedure has some risk. Leaks of bone cement into perineural tissues can be a serious complication. In contrast to the lumbar vertebrae, the outer margin of the pedicle of the thoracic vertebrae is almost in line with the outer margin of the body. This, combined with the thinner pedicle of the thoracic vertebrae, makes proper needle placement difficult. The posterolateral approach is preferred to the transpedicular approach in order to avoid the danger of destroying the inner cortex of the pedicle. But there can be a problems with the standard posterolateral approach. The rib can be broken, the pleura can be punctured. A new and safer approach is possible. Before penetrating the bone, the needle is positioned at the upper margin of the transverse process, 5 mm away from the pedicle. To achieve this positioning, the needle must puncture the skin 1~1.5 cm laterally and 3~5 mm cranially to the target point on the bone. This approach was used for 10 patients and we achieved good results with no serious complication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.378-380
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• 2009

Osteoporotic patients who undergo percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) have the risk of a repeated collapse of their adjacent vertebral body due to alteration of load transfer into the adjacent vertebral body. The authors have experienced a rare case of repeated osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) resulting in extreme multi-level PVP. A 74-year-old female developed severe back pain after slipping down one month ago. Her X-ray and MR images indicated a T11 VCF. She underwent successful PVP with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Two weeks later, she returned to our hospital due to a similar back pain. Repeated X-ray and MR images showed an adjacent VCF on T12. A retrial of PVP was performed on T12, which provided immediate pain relief. Since then, repeated collapses of the vertebral body occurred 12 times in 13 levels within a 24-month period. Each time the woman was admitted to our hospital, she was diagnosed of newly developed VCFs and underwent repeated PVPs with PMMA, which finally eased back pain. Based on our experience with this patient, repeated multiple PVP is not dangerous because its few and minor complications. Therefore, repeated PVP can serve as an effective treatment modality for extreme-multi level VCFs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.261-265
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• 2006

A vertebral compression fracture can cause chronic back pain, and may also result in progressive kyphosis. The traditional treatments of a vertebral compression fracture include bed rest, analgesics and bracing. Balloon kyphoplasty can restore the vertebral height and allow safe bone cement injection into the cavity made by the balloon, which significantly reduces the risk of cement leakage compared to vertebroplasty. An 82-year-old female patient suffered from severe low back pain. Due to the intractable pain and immobility, which could not be relieved by conventional care, as well as the empty vertebral body associated with communicated fractures of the vertebral surfaces, balloon kyphoplasty, with a thicker bone cement injection than usual with balloon kyphoplasty, was chosen. The preoperative intractable pain and immobility were dramatically relieved soon after the procedure, without any complications.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of ischemic compression (IC) therapy and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome and to present an effective treatment method for these patients. Methods: A total of 42 patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome were randomly assigned to the IC group (n = 21) and ESWT group (n = 21). IC therapy and ESWT were performed in the IC and ESWT groups, respectively. Treatment was applied to the trigger point of the upper trapezius muscle. Visual analog scales (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), range of motion, neck disability index (NDI), and fear-avoidance belief questionnaire (FABQ) were evaluated before and after the intervention to compare its effectiveness. Results: Both groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention in VAS, PPT, NDI, FABQ, flexion, extension, right side bending, and left side bending (p <.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the IC group compared to the ESWT group in VAS, PPT, and NDI (p <.05). Conclusion: IC therapy and ESWT applied to patients with upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome are mediating methods of pain, function, and psychosocial effects. In addition, IC therapy may be a more effective mediating method for pain and dysfunction than ESWT.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2021

When a patient represents pain in foot, physician can easily overlook compression neuropathy of peripheral nerve as it is uncommon. Among nerve entrapment syndrome encountered in the foot, selective compression in lateral branch of deep peroneal nerve (DPN) is rare. We report a case of a patient with pain and dysesthesia in dorsolateral foot which turned out as lateral branch of deep peroneal nerve entrapment syndrome caused by talonavicular joint effusion. We would like to share diagnostic work up flow and conservative treatment courses. This case manifests the importance of the deep peroneal nerve and its branches in clinical setting of pain and ankle instability.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.142-145
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• 2005

Background: Vertebroplasty that is performed in the upper and middle thoracic spine presents technical challenges that are different from those in the lower thoracic or lumbar region due to the small pedicle size and angular severity for thoracic kyphosis. We report the results of percutaneous vertebroplasty and review its effectiveness in treating intractable osteoporotic compression fractures in the upper and middle thoracic spine. Methods: Patients who underwent vertebroplasty due to painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T3 T8 were retrospectively analyzed. The compression rate, volume of injected cement, clinical outcome (VAS score) and complications were analyzed. Results: Forty-three vertebral bodies from 41 patients (32 females and 9 males, age from 64 to 78 years old) underwent vertebroplasty. The mean compression rate improved from 35% to 17%. Bipedicular injections of bone cement were performed at 3 levels of 2 patients, and unipedicular injections were performed in 40 levels of 39 patients. The mean VAS score prior to surgery was 7.7, which improved to 2.4 within 48 hours after surgery, and the mean VAS score after 6 months was 1.5, which was significantly lower. All patients recovered uneventfully, and the neurological examination revealed no deficits. Cement leakage to the adjacent disc (9 levels) and paravertebral soft tissues (10 levels) developed. However, there were no significant complications related to the procedure such as a pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism. Conclusions: Transpedicular vertebroplasty is a safe and effective treatment for the upper and middle thoracic regions, and has a low complication rate.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2006

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the roles of the spinal and peripheral ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- ergic systems for the mechanical hypersensitivity produced by chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion (CCD). Methods: CCD was performed at the left 5th lumbar dorsal root ganglion. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) to von Frey stimuli was measured. The mechanical responsiveness of the lumbar dorsal horn neurons was examined. GABAergic drugs were delivered with intrathecal (i.t.) or intraplantar (i.pl.) injection or by topical application onto the spinal cord. Results: CCD produced mechanical hypersensitivity, which was evidenced by the decrease of the PWT, and it lasting for 10 weeks. For the rats showing mechanical hypersensitivity, the mechanical responsiveness of the lumbar dorsal horn neurons was enhanced. A similar increase was observed with the normal lumbar dorsal horn neurons when the GABA-A receptor antagonist bicuculline was topically applied. An i.t. injection of GABA-A or GABA-B receptor agonist, muscimol or baclofen, alleviated the CCD-induced hypersensitivity. Topical application of same drugs attenuated the CCD-induced enhanced mechanical responsiveness of the lumbar dorsal horn neurons. CCD-induced hypersensitivity was also improved by low-dose muscimol applied (i.pl.) into the affected hind paw, whereas no effects could be observed with high-dose muscimol or baclofen. Conclusions: The results suggest that the neuropathic pain associated with compression of the dorsal root ganglion is caused by hyperexcitability of the dorsal horn neurons due to a loss of spinal GABAergic inhibition. Peripheral application of low-dose GABA-A receptor agonist can be useful to treat this pain.