• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.13-25
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• 2004

Objective : Herniation of Nucleus Pulpous(HNP) of Lumbar is the most important reason that causes low back pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Bee-venom acua-acupuncture therapy for protrusion disc patients. Methods : To evaluate the effectiveness of Bee-Venom Acupuncture Therapy, 20 patients were treated by bee-venom acua-acupuncture therapy. To estimate the efficacy of treatment, we used Quardruple Visual Analog Scale(QVAS). Results : 1. As a objectivity treatment record, they test treatment record good 60%, fair 25%, excellent 15%. 2. After bee-venom therapy, pain rate changed from 8.25 to 2.15. 3. By the results which puts out the statistics in sex, a pain rate of male changed from 8.75 to 2.50, a pain rate of female 7.92 to 1.92. Intentional difference is none as a therapy. By the results which puts out the statistics in age, after forties changed from 7.78 to 2.22 and before forties changed from 7.90 to 1.92. By the results which puts out the statistics in disc herniation, pain rate of central type changed from 8.29 to 2.29, pain rate of left type changed from 8.20 to 1.40, pain rate of Right type changed from 8.00 to 4.00.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2020

Background: This study aims to statistically analyze and compare the curative effect and satisfaction level between typical traditional Korean medicine treatment and nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment. Methods: Of the patients who were diagnosed with the cervical or lumbar herniated intervertebral disc at the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine at the Daejeon Korean Medicine Hospital from April 14^th to August 25^th, 2019, this study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 31 patients who underwent nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment and traditional Korean medicine (assigned to Group A) and another 31 patients who received typical traditional Korean medicine alone (assigned to Group B). The clinical data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23.0. Results: No statistically significant differences appeared in terms of sociodemographic, condition, and therapeutic characteristics, except whether the patient received Western medicine treatment, before or after a treatment with traditional Korean medicine. Group A exhibited higher variations in numeric rating scale, EuroQol- 5 dimension and EuroQol visual analogue scale scores compared to Group B as determined by independent sample t test and analysis of covariance. In addition, the satisfaction score of Group A was higher than that of Group B The result of cross analysis revealed that desire for continued treatment in Group A was higher than that of Group B. Conclusion: This retrospective observational study showed that the patients with nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment reported a greater reduction in pain, improved quality of life and satisfaction than patients receiving typical traditional Korean medicine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.157-160
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis in elderly patients. Methods : The authors reviewed the medical records of 49 patients older than 65 years of age with lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent surgical treatment from January 2002 to December 2004 in our institute. Results : Average age of patients was 70 years old [32 women, 17 men]. Twenty-four patients had chronic medical disorders. All patients were operated under the general anesthesia of these, 29 patients underwent decompressive laminectomy and decompressive laminectomy with instrumentation and fusion in 20 patients. The mean operation time was 193.5 minutes, mean estimated blood loss was 378cc and mean postoperative hospital stay length was 15.3 days. The mean follow-up duration was 11.9 months. The evaluation of outcome was assessed by Macnab classification. At first month after operation, the outcome showed excellent in 7 [14.3%]. good in 35 [71.4%], fair in 5 [10.2%], and poor in 2 [4.1%]. And at 6 months after operation, 17 patients were lost in follow-up, the outcome showed excellent in 4 [12.5%], good in 25 [78.1%], fair in 3 [9.4%], and no poor cases. There was no significant difference between outcome of laminectomy alone and that of laminectomy with fusion. Six patients [12.2%] experienced postoperative complications which included wound infection [3], nerve root injury [1], disc herniation [1], and reoperation due to insufficient decompression [1]. There were no deaths related to operation. Conclusion : We conclude that the surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis in elderly patients can provide good results with acceptable morbidity when carefully selected. In addition, decision on lumbar spinal fusion should not be against solely on advanced age.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.252-264
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• 2023

Background: The primary aim of this study is to statistically analyze and compare the difference in treatment outcomes based on the frequency and duration of acupotomy treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Methods: The evaluation of efficacy and safety involved using visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), EuroQol 5-dimention (EQ-5D), and similar parameters. This was achieved through the establishment of a comparable cohort using propensity score matching. Group A comprised 46 patients who underwent 4 sessions of acupotomy treatment for 2 weeks, while Group B consisted of 15 patients who received 6 acupotomy sessions for 3 weeks. Results: For Group A, the average amount of change in VAS values at weeks 4 and 6 was significantly decreased. However, the average amount of change in RMDQ values was not significant. Notably, the average amount of change of EQ-5D values at week 6 increased significantly. As for Group B, the average amount of change of NRS values in weeks 2 and 3 was significantly decreased. Conversely, the average amount of change in RMDQ and EQ-5D values was not significant. In comparing the 2 groups at the final follow-up, the average amount of change in all evaluation values was not significant. Further, no significant interaction effect was observed in the changes over time in all evaluation values between the 2 groups. Conclusion: This study establishes that there was no statistically significant difference in pain reduction, functional impairment, and quality of life improvement between 2 group.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.171-177
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• 1986

During last 48 months, in our department 51 patients with single or multiple herniated lumbar discs have received chemonucleolysis. Forty-one of 51 cases have single level herniation and remaining cases have multiple level. Age distribution were from 19 to 59 years old. Over 4 months(longest case: 18 months) follow up revealed as follows: 40 cases(78%) revealed excellent results: 4 cases(7.8%) received discectomy 3-6 months after chemonucleolysis because of recurred symtoms : no anaphylaxis and no major complications were noted.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.159-169
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the correlation of the cross-sectional areas(CSA) of paraspinalis(iliocostalis lumborum, multifidus, longissimus thoracis parts lumborum) and psoas muscle and sex, age, change of the VAS(visual analogue scale) and past history of chronic low back pain in patients suffering from HIVD(herniation of intervertebral disc). Methods : Medical records of 140 subjects with HIVD were retrospectively reviewed. The MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) findings on the patients were scanned and analyzed by PiView program to find the paraspinal and psoas muscle CSA and were evaluated by the correlation of sex, age, change of the VAS, and past history of chronic low back pain. Results : There was significant difference between groups in male and female, young-adults age and middle age, middle age and old age, young-adults age and old age. But the correlation of the paraspinal and psoas muscle CSA and past history of chronic low back pain were partially significant. On the other hand, the correlation of the paraspinal and psoas muscle CSA and change of the VAS were not significant. Conclusions : These results suggest that the cross-sectional areas(CSA) of paraspinalis and psoas muscle have relevance to sex and age.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2013

Objectives : The present study examines the domestic trend of Chuna treatments on lumbar spinal disorder in Korea. Methods : We investigated the studies on Chuna treatments for lumbar spinal disorder via searching 10 Korean web databases. As a result, 63 research papers were found to be analyzed according to their published year, the titles of journals, the types of study, the techniques of Chuna, the instruments for assessment, the Chuna technique and the number of the treatment trials by the cases of lumbar spinal disorder and ethical approvals. Results : The number of the research papers published tends to increase every year. The studies on Chuna treatments were mainly published in The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine for Spine & Nerves. The most frequently adopted technique of Chuna in the examined studies was Cox flexion & distraction technique. Visual analogue scale(VAS), oswestry disability questionnaire(ODI) were used as primary means of assessments. The ethical problems of the examined studies needed to be improved. Conclusion : Reviewing the domestic trend of studies on Chuna treatments for lumbar spinal disorder and examining the strong and weak points of those treatments are essential for the future studies. It is anticipated that this review benefits the future in-depth study on the treatments for Chuna in Korean medicine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.194-201
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• 2024

Objective : This study aimed to evaluate the clinical feasibility of the combination of ultrasound and nerve stimulator guidance in transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) to manage lumbosacral chronic radicular pain. Methods : Using the combination of nerve stimulator and ultrasound guidance, TESIs were performed in 125 segments of 78 patients who presented with chronic lumbar radicular pain. Demographic characteristics and surgical outcomes were recorded on admission, pre-procedural and post-procedural for 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups. The result was measured using the Numeric rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Results : Patients who received TESIs showed significant improvements on two evaluation tools (NRS, ODI), compared to that before procedure (p<0.001). No significant complications were observed for 6 months' follow-up. Conclusion : The result suggests that a combination of ultrasound and nerve stimulator guidance in transforaminal epidural injections is safe, reliable and effective for short-term management of lumbar disc herniation. It is a promising technique and has shown good results in providing intermediate pain relief.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2024

Objective : Some patients with disc herniation who underwent discectomy complain of back pain after surgery and are unsatisfied with the surgical results. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative disc height (DH), postoperative DH, and pain score 12 months after surgery in patients who underwent microdiscectomy for herniated lumbar disc. Methods : This study enrolled patients who underwent microdiscectomy at a medical center between January 2012 and December 2020. Patients with X-ray or computed tomography and pain score assessment (visual analog scale score) prior to surgery, immediately post-op, and at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery were included. The DH index was defined as DH/overlying vertebral width. The DH ratio was defined as the postoperative DH/preoperative DH. Simple linear regression and multivariate linear regression analyses were applied to assess the correlation between DHs and leg pain scores 12 months after surgery. Results : A total of 118 patients who underwent microdiscectomy were included. DH decreased up to 12 months after surgery. The DH ratio at 1, 6, and 12 months after discectomy showed a significant positive correlation with the pain scores at 12 months after discectomy (1 month : p=0.045, B=0.52; 6 months : p=0.008, B=0.78; 12 months : p=0.005, B=0.69). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the level of surgery, sex, age, and body mass index had no significant relationship with back pain scores after 12 months. Conclusion : In patients who underwent microdiscectomy, the DH ratios at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery were prognostic factors for back pain scores at 12 months after surgery. Aggressive discectomy is recommended for lower postoperative DH ratios and Visual analog scale scores, leading to improved patient satisfaction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.21-35
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• 2006

Objectives : Herniation of Nucleus Pulposus(HNP) of Cervical is the most important reason that causes Cervical pain. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Carthmi-Flos Herbal acua-acupuncture therapy for Cervical disc Herniation patients. Methods : To evaluate the effectiveness of Carthmi-Flos Herbal acua-Acupuncture Therapy, 20 patients were treated by Carthmi-Flos Herbal acua-acupuncture therapy. To estimate the efficacy of treatment, we used Quardruple Visual Analog Scale (QVAS). Results & Conclusion : 1. As a objectivity treatment record, they test treatment record good 35%, fair 35%, excellent 30%. 2. After Carthmi-Flos acua-acupuncture therapy, pain rate changed from 8.80 to 5.40 3. By the results which puts out the statistics in sex , a pain rate of male changed from 8.57$({\pm}1.51)$ to 2.71$({\pm}2.63)$, a pain rate of female 8.92$({\pm}0.95)$ to 3.77$({\pm}2.09)$. Intentional difference is none as a therapy. 4. By the results which puts out the statistics in age, after forties changed from 9.07$({\pm}0.88)$ to 3.80$({\pm}2.43)$ and before forties changed from 8.00$({\pm}1.58)$ to 2.20$({\pm}1.30)$. Intentional difference is none as a therapy. 5. By the results which puts out the statistics in Duration, pain rate of the acutest group changed from 8.36$({\pm}1.12)$ to 2.18$({\pm}1.08)$, pain rate of the subacute group changed from 9.80$({\pm}0.45)$, to 5.20$({\pm}2.68)$, pain rate of the chronic group changed from 8.67$({\pm}1.53)$ to 3.33$({\pm}1.53)$. Intentional difference is none as a therapy. 6. By the results which puts out the statistics in the reading of Lumbar MID, pain rate of the Bulging type changed from 9.00$({\pm}1.05)$ to 4.30$({\pm}2.67)$, pain rate of the Protruded type changed from 8.50$({\pm}1.00)$, to 3.50$({\pm}1.29)$, pain rate of the Extruded type changed from 6.00 to 1.00, pain rate of the Mixed type changed from 9.20$({\pm}0.84)$ to 2.00$({\pm}1.23)$, Intentional difference is none as a therapy.