• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.496-500
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• 2010

Objective : Surgical treatment of lumbosacral foraminal stenosis requires an understanding of the anatomy of the lumbosacral area in individual patients. Unilateral facetectomy has been used to completely decompress entrapment of the L5 nerve root, followed in some patients by posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with stand-alone cages Methods : We assessed 34 patients with lumbosacral foraminal stenosis who were treated with unilateral facetectomy and PLIF using stand-alone cages in our center from January 2004 to September 2007. All the patients underwent follow-up X-rays, including a dynamic view, at 3, 6, 12, 24 months, and computed tomography (CT) at 24 months postoperatively. Clinical outcomes were analyzed with the mean numeric rating scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Odom's criteria. Radiological outcomes were assessed with change of disc height, defined as the average of anterior, middle, and posterior height in plain X-rays. In addition, lumbosacral fusion was also assessed with dynamic X-ray and CT. Results : Mean NRS score, which was 9.29 prior to surgery, was 1.5 at 18 months after surgery. The decrease in NRS was statistically significant. Excellent and good groups with regard to Odom's criteria were 31 cases (91%) and three cases (9%) were fair. Pre-operative mean ODI of 28.4 decreased to 14.2 at post-operative 24 months. In 30 patients, a bone bridge on CT scan was identified. The change in disc height was 8.11 mm, 10.02 mm and 9.63 mm preoperatively, immediate postoperatively and at 24 months after surgery, respectively. Conclusion : In the treatment of lumbosacral foraminal stenosis, unilateral facetectomy and interbody fusion using expandable stand-alone cages may be considered as one treatment option to maintain post-operative alignment and to obtain satisfactory clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.217-227
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• 2015

Objectives : This study is an evaluation of the effectiveness of treatments combined with Korean medical methods, such as relaxative Chuna and Gangchuk herbal medicines, for patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Methods : In this study, medical records of ten patients who experienced failed back surgery syndrome and participated in intensive Korean medical treatment were reviewed. All patients received relaxative Chuna and acupuncture along with Gangchuk herbal medicines during hospitalization. Numeric rating scale(NRS) in the degree of 0 to 10, pain-free walking distance(PFWD) and oswestry disability index(ODI) were measured before and after treatments. Results : The patients were hospitalized for an average of 22 days. The average NRS of lumbar pain in all patients decreased from $7.7{\pm}1.6$ to $3.2{\pm}2.2$ and the average NRS decline of leg pain was from $7.7{\pm}1.7$ to $3.2{\pm}2.2$, both of which indicate statistical significance(p < 0.05). PFWD in all patients increased from 113.3 m to 798.1 m on average. The average ODI in all patients significantly improved from $63.9{\pm}7.0$ to $43.9{\pm}6.9$(p < 0.05). Conclusions : The treatments combined with Korean medical methods for failed back surgery syndrome patients are clinically effective and viable.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.43-50
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• 2018

Objectives Upper lumbar disc herniation (LDH) (L1/2, L2/3) has specific anatomical characteristics and different outcome after conventional treatment compared to lower LDH (L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1). The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical features and effects of korean medical treatment of upper LDH between lower LDH. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data collected from 121 patients who was had admitted at the Haeundae Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine from June 1st, 2014 to August 31th, 2018. The patients who had treated at L1/2, L2/3 level LDH were grouped and compared with those treated at the L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 level. We reviewed the patient characteristics such as age, the positive rate of Straight Leg Raise Test (SLR test), the presence or absence of previous lumbar surgery. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were evaluated at adimission and discharge. Results Mean age was significantly higher at upper LDH group and positive rate of SLR test was higher at lower LDH group. There was no significant difference of gender and previous lumbar surgery between two groups. Each group had a significant improvement of NRS, ODI scores. But between two groups, there was no significant difference of NRS, ODI scores. Conclusions Upper LDH group was older than lower LDH group. SLR test was useful tool to exclude upper LDH. Korean medical treatment was significantly effective to both upper and lower LDH groups. Further well designed prospective comparative studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2021

This study's purpose is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment to posterior cruciate ligament tear patients due to traffic accident. 2 patients were treated with Korean medicine by acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medication. We assessed the knee pain and functional improvement by using numeric rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis (WOMAC) index and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) index. After treatment, NRS decreased from 6 to 2 in case 1 and from 5 to 3 in case 2. EQ-5D index chaged from 0.465 to 0.72 in case 1 and from 0.719 to -0.171 in case 2. WOMAC index decreased from 82 to 13 in case 1 and from 55 to 54 in case 2. NRS improved in both cases, but WOMAC index and EQ-5D index improved in only one case. Korean medicine treatment could be helpful for posterior cruciate ligament tear traffic accident patients. However, further clinical studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness to the patients with old age, degeneration and accompanying injury.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2021

Objectives This study aimed to assess the role of complex Korean medicinal treatment with Chuna manual therapy in two patients with chronic pain after posterior lumbar fusion surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 2 patients postoperatively based on their medical records. The surgery regions were verified using T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with chronic pain after spondylolisthesis posterior lumbar fusion surgery received complex Korean medicinal treatment with Chuna manual therapy during hospitalization. Numeric rating scale (NRS) in the degree of 0-10 and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were measured before and after treatment. Results Case 1 had an improved NRS score from 7 to 4, and Case 2 had an improved NRS score from 7 to 5. In addition, ODI score improved in both cases. Conclusions Complex Korean medicinal treatment with Chuna manual therapy is effective for relief from chronic pain after posterior lumbar fusion surgery.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1341-1348
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine on a squamous cell lung cancer patient with chemotherapy induction peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). A 61-year old male patient, who had received 4 cycles of chemotherapy after lung surgery from squamous cell lung cancer, was treated with acupuncture and herbal medicines, including Uchasingi-hwan and Samchilchoongcho-capsule, to control CIPN and dyspnea on exertion. The degree of pain was assessed by a numeric rating scale (NRS). After receiving acupuncture and herbal medicines, the NRS score for CIPN symptoms was reduced from 4 to 1 and the NRS score for dyspnea on exertion decreased from 3 to less than 1. Korean medicine could therefore be useful in reducing peripheral neuropathy occurring after chemotherapy and dyspnea after lobectomy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.138-142
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• 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Korean rehabilitation treatement for patients with post-TKR. The medical records of inpatients undergoing Korean rehabilitation treatment after TKR from 2016.01.01. to 2021.12.31. during the admission, were analyzed retrospectively. The effect of treatment was evaluated by using a numeric rating scale(NRS) and range of motion(ROM) of knee. Statistical analysis was done using the IBM SPSS statistics 26 program. If the period of hospitalization was within 7 days or change of NRS and ROM was not recorded properly, the case was excluded. All inpatients received acupuncture treatment, Electro-acupuncture. Soyeom pharmaco-acupuncture were used at a high rate. Blood letting cupping therapy, dry cupping therapy, Interferential Current Therapy(ICT) continuous passive motion(CPM), cryotherapy were used at a high rate. A significant improvement was noted when comparing the NRS and knee ROM results at the time of admission and discharge. Korean medical rehabilitation can be effectively used for patients who have undergone TKR, to relieve pain and enable returning to daily activities. It is expected to be helpful in future studies of post-TKR in Korean Medicine. Also It can be used for medical treatment of post-TKR in Korean Medicine Hospital and clinic. However, further research with a high level of evidence is necessary to support this finding.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.247-251
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• 2022

This study is to show the clinical effect of Korean medicine integrated treatment for medial collateral ligament tear with bone contusion by traffic accident. The patients were treated using Korean medicine integrated treatment including acupunture, pharmacoacupunture and herbal medication. The effect of treatment was measured by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). After treatment, case 1 improved WOMAC from 94 to 24, EQ-5D from -0.056 to 0.72, and NRS from 10 to 2. Case 2 showed an improvement in symptoms from WOMAC 91 to 14, EQ-5D from 0.077 to 0.862, NRS from 10 to 2.5. In addition, as a result of follow-up about 5 months after each onset, case 1 showed a further improvement with WOMAC 0, EQ-5D 0.95 and case 2 WOMAC 7, EQ-5D 0.913. These results suggest that Korean medicine integrated treatment might be a possible therapeutic option for the medial collateral ligament tear with bone contusion by traffic accident.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.652-663
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• 2023

Objective : This study compared the quality of recovery (QoR) after minicraniotomy for clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) between patients with and without scalp nerve block (SNB). Methods : Patients were randomly assigned to the SNB (SNB using ropivacaine with epinephrine, n=27) and control (SNB using normal saline, n=25) groups. SNB was performed at the end of surgery. To assess postoperative QoR, the QoR-40, a patient-reported questionnaire, was used. The QoR-40 scores were measured preoperatively, 1-3 days postoperatively, at hospital discharge, and 1 month postoperatively. Pain and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) consumption were evaluated 3, 6, 9, and 12 hours and 1-3 days postoperatively. Results : All QoR-40 scores, including those measured 1 day postoperatively (primary outcome measure; 155.0 [141.0-176.0] vs. 161.0 [140.5-179.5], p=0.464), did not significantly differ between the SNB and control groups. The SNB group had significantly less severe pain 3 (numeric rating scale [NRS]; 3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs. 5.0 [3.5-5.5], p=0.029), 9 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-5.0], p=0.048), and 12 (NRS; 3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-5.0], p=0.035) hours postoperatively. The total amount of IV-PCA consumed was significantly less 3 hours postoperatively in the SNB group (2.0 [1.0-4.0] vs. 4.0 [2.0-5.0] mL, p=0.044). Conclusion : After minicraniotomy for clipping of UIAs, SNB reduced pain and IV-PCA consumption in the early postoperative period but did not improve the QoR-40 scores.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.272-276
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and safety of procedures using ultrasound equipment for acupuncture treatment. Methods: A pilot, prospective randomized, single blinded, crossover clinical study on the accuracy and safety of ultrasound-guided Gyeontonghyeol (BP-LE6) acupuncture treatment was conducted. Patients (n = 13) with shoulder pain were randomly divided into 2 groups. During Visit 1, ultrasound-guided BP-LE6 acupuncture was administered to the experimental group. In the control group, patients received BP-LE6 acupuncture (without checking ultrasound images) by manipulating the ultrasound probe as if administering ultrasound-guided acupuncture. Visit 2 was arranged within 7-14 days and the remaining procedures, other than those administered in Visit 1, were performed. In both the experimental group and control group, the number of needle insertions, and time required for the treatment to result in the patients feeling de-qi was recorded. The numeric rating scale (NRS) score for shoulder pain was recorded before and after the acupuncture treatment. Results: The number of needle insertions was $5.31{\pm}3.50$ times in the experimental group, and $6.62{\pm}3.38$ times in the control group, however, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p > 0.05). The mean time required to perform the procedure was $151.54{\pm}48.59$ seconds in the experimental group and $86.69{\pm}37.17$ seconds in the control group, which was statistically significantly different (p < 0.05). The changes observed in numerical rating scale scores between groups were not statistically significantly different. Conclusion: Although there was no statistically significant difference, administering acupuncture using ultrasound guidance may lead to accurate needling with a reduced number of needle insertion attempts. A large-scale clinical study of better design should be conducted in the future.