• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.165-180
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• 2016

Objectives : This study is aimed to report the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided bee venom pharmacopuncture in rotator cuff disease patients. Methods : We treated 4 rotator cuff disease patients with ultrasound-guided bee venom pharmacopuncture and integrative Korean Medical Treatment. The Numeric Rating Scale(NRS), Shoulder Pain And Disability Index(SPADI), and Range Of Motion(ROM) were applied as outcome measures. Results : Comparing before and after treatment, both NRS and SPADI scores were decreased, and ROM was increased in all cases. And adverse events about bee venom pharmacopuncture have not been observed. Conclusion : This study shows ultrasound-guided bee venom pharmacopuncture has a meaningful clinical effect on the improving shoulder pain, disability and ROM.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.126-139
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of insomnia treatment applied with Giungoroen-therapy in relieving adhesive capsulitis. Methods: There is a patient who has had insomnia symptoms for 2 years ago and complained of shoulder pain from 5 months ago. Korean medicine treatment like acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine and Giungoroen -therapy was applied to this patient. As evaluation tools, the numeral rating scale(NRS), a tool for pain evaluation and the Insomnia Severity Index(ISI), a sleep quality evaluation tool, were used. After 12 days of treatment, the range of motion of the shoulder joint increased and the NRS score improved from 8 to 5 and the ISI score improved from 22 to 16. Conclusion: For the treatment of adhesive capsulitis, it can be effective to relieve insomnia by applying Korean medicine treatments, including Giungoroen-therapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.143-155
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• 2007

Objectives: To observe the effect of acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment on adhesive capsulitis patients. Methods : 59 voluntary patients were randomly assigned to acupuncture treatment group(E group, n=22), nerve block treatment group(W group, n=17) and acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment group(EW group, n=20). The E group received acupuncture treatment on LI15, $TE_{14}$, $GB_{21}$ and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The W group received suprascapular nerve block, subacromial injection and trigger point injection, twice a week for 4 weeks. The EW group received the same treatment as the W group and after 5minutes of rest, successively received the treatment identical to that of E group. All three groups were instructed to practice groups were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment and after 1, 2, 3 and 4week treatment. Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI), Range of Motion(ROM), the patient's treatment satisfaction measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) and Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI) were used as assessment tools. The obtained data were analyzed and compared. Results : The E group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) on CSA, SPADI, VAS and DITI. As for ROM, Adduction and Extension improved significantly(p<0.05). The W group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) on CSA, SPADI, VAS and DITI. As for ROM, Abduction and Extension improved significantly. The EW group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) on CSA, SPADI and VAS. As for ROM, Adduction, Abduction, Extension and Flexion improved significantly. The improvement of CSA, VAS and Abduction ROM in the EW group was significantly(p<0.05) superior compared to the groups treated with single type of treatment. Conclusion : It is suggested that acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment for adhesive capsulitis patients is more effective than the two single treatments. Through further studies, the acupuncture and nerve block combination treatment model may be developed into East-West Collaboration Model in treating adhesive capsulitis.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if osteoarthritis patients would benefit in terms of pain, fatigue, difficulty with physical activity, joint stiffness, and flexibility of the joints from a structured self-help program. Method: This self-help program was carried out 2-3 hours once a week for 6 weeks in 2005-2006, and evaluated in one group pretest-posttest pre-experimental design. The subjects of this study who were diagnosed osteoarthritis were recruited at two different Community Health Centers in Kangwon. The subjects who agreed with the purpose of this study and participated both pretest and post-test were 55 patients. Mean age is 63.48 (9.48) years, mean duration of disease is 7.95 (7.66) years. The self-help program was consisted of weekly health contract, exercise, health education, group discussion, group counseling, and recreation. At every meeting, researcher and trained public health nurse evaluated the program, and prepared the next program. The measurement tools were pain rating scale (0-10), fatigue rating scale (0-10), Korean WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis) Index, ruler, and goniometer. Results: At the completion of 6 weeks of self-help program, the subjects reported significantly less pain and difficulty with physical activity and more flexibility in both shoulder and knee joints compared to pretest. Conclusion: The self-help program would be helpful on pain, physical activity, and joint flexibility for arthritis patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2014

Objective : To report long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy (MI-PCF) performed in patients with unilateral single-level cervical radiculopathy. Methods : Of forty-six patients who underwent MI-PCF for unilateral single-level radiculopathy between 2005 and 2013, 33 patients were included in the study, with a mean follow-up of 32.7 months. Patients were regularly followed for clinical and radiological assessment. Clinical outcome was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) for the neck/shoulder and arm, and the neck disability index (NDI). Radiological outcome was measured by focal/global angulation and disc height index (DHI). Outcomes after MI-PCF were evaluated as changes of clinical and radiological parameters from the baseline. Mixed effect model with random patients' effect was used to test for differences in the clinical and radiological parameters repeat measures. Results : There were no complications and all patients had an uneventful recovery during the early postoperative period. VAS scores for neck/shoulder and arm improved significantly in the early postoperative period (3 months) and were maintained with time (p<0.001). NDI improved significantly post-operatively and tended to decrease gradually during the follow-up period (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in focal and global angulation at follow-up. Percent DHIs of the upper adjacent or operated disc were maintained without significant changes with time. During the follow-up, same site recurrence was not noted and adjacent segment disease requiring additional surgery occurred in two patients (6%) on the contra-lateral side. Conclusion : MI-PCF provides long-term pain relief and functional restoration, accompanied by good long-term radiological outcome.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.219-221
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• 2015

Subclavian injuries in blunt trauma are reported in less than 1% of all arterial injuries or chest related injuries. We report a female 68 yr-old patient whom has visited our emergency center due to a motorcycle traffic accident with complaints of right chest wall and shoulder pain. Her injury severity score was 22 and she was found with a comminuted clavicle fracture and subclavian artery injury. She developed delayed symptoms of pallor, pain and motor weakness with loss of pulse in her right arm. Attempts at intervention failed and thus, she underwent emergency artificial graft bypass from her subclavian artery to her brachial artery. Her postoperative course was uneventful and she is happy with the results. Although rare, a high index of suspicion for the injury must be noted and the inevitable surgical option must always be considered.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2016

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the surgical outcomes of plate fixation using autologous iliac bone graft shaped in the form of a matchstick in clavicle nonunion resulting from prior surgical or non-surgical management. Methods: From May 2005 to February 2013, 17 patients underwent surgery for clavicle nonunion. The mean age at the time of surgery was 48.8 years. The iliac bone was harvested and shaped into slivers approximately 3 cm long, which resembled matchsticks. After opening of the medullary canal, the plate and screws were applied and cancellous bone was placed at the nonunion site. Matchstick bone grafts which were longitudinally placed and encircled on the nonunion site were tied with periosteum using 3-4 stitches. Union was determined via postoperative plane X-ray. Clinical status was evaluated using the visual analogue scale score for pain, and Constant and American Shoulder Elbow Surgeon score. Results: All patients had a stable radiological union at the follow-up. The mean duration from index operation to nonunion operation was 13.2 months (7-32 months). The mean follow-up period was 20.1 months (8-56 months), and the mean duration until union was 11.2 weeks (8-16 weeks). All clinical scores were improved at the final follow-up (p<0.001). The mean segmental defect was $3.3{\pm}2.6mm$ (1-18 mm); and the difference in clavicular length between operative and non-operative site was $5.9{\pm}6.9mm$. Conclusions: Matchstick shaped autologous iliac bone grafting technique in clavicle nonunion is acceptable with a high union rate.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2022

Background: Given the complications involved in corticosteroid (CS) injections, subacromial platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may provide a valid alternative to CS in the treatment of rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 98 patients affected by RC tendinopathy who were treated with either subacromial injection of PRP or CS. The PRP group received three injections of autologous PRP at 2 weeks interval, and the CS group received one injection of CS. The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) was the primary outcome measure, while the secondary outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and need for cuff repair surgery, which were analyzed at intervals of 6, 12, and 18 months. Results: A total of 75 patients were included in the analysis (PRP, n=35; CS, n=40). The mean follow-up for PRP was 21.1±8.7 months and for CS was 33.6±16.3 months (p<0.001). Both groups showed improvement in WORC, VAS, and ROM. No significant differences were detected between the two groups in any of the primary (WORC) or secondary outcomes over 6, 12, and 18 months (all p>0.05). No adverse events were detected. Conclusions: Both treatments improved patient symptoms, but neither resulted in a significantly better outcome in this series of patients. PRP can be a safe and feasible alternative to CS, even at long-term follow-up, to reduce local and systemic effects involved with CS injections.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Korean medical combination treatment for cervical disc herniation. Methods : This is an observational study. 102 patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) were investigated from January, 2015 through to December, 2015 at Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. They were sorted according to the distribution of sex, age, causing factor, the period of disease, admission day and pain area. All patients were treated with acupuncture, Chuna treatment, and herbal therapy and physical therapy during the admission period. After treatment, NRS (Numeric Rating Scale), NDI (Neck Disability Index) and EQ-5D were assessed to evaluate the treatment efficacy. Results : There were more females than Males with a ratio of 1 : 1.37, the age of fifty was the most with 35.29 %, reason unknown was the most with 72.55 % and the subacute stage was the most with 38.24 %. According to disc herniation types, patients with protruded disc types were the most with 66.67 % and a lesion of C5/6 was the most with 41.18 %. For patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation, neck and shoulder pain NRS decreased from $6.43{\pm}1.77$ to $3.96{\pm}1.96$(p<0.001) and radiating pain NRS decreased from $5.64{\pm}1.96$ to $3.57{\pm}1.88$ (p<0.001). NDI decreased from $41.72{\pm}14.04$ to $30.84{\pm}15.34$(p<0.001), and the EQ-5D index increased from $0.68{\pm}0.17$ to $0.79{\pm}0.14$(p<0.001) after treating cervical disc patients. Conclusion : Korean medical combination treatment might be effective in decreasing pain and raising the life quality of patients with cervical disc herniation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.43-51
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• 2020

This study examined how the eight-week spinal stabilization exercise program affects the cervical disability index, postural balance ability, and body shape change. The exercise program performed 60 minutes of spinal stabilization exercise three times a week for eight weeks. Sixteen patients with chronic neck pain, who complained of neck pain for six months, were classified into exercise group (n=8 patients) and control group (n=8 patients). The results before and after the eight-week exercise program were observed. Significant differences were observed in the time, group, and interaction of the neck disability index (p<.05). The balance ability showed significant interaction effects between the groups and periods (p<.05). Significant differences were noted in the timing and interaction in the pelvic inclination angle in posture change (p<.05), and there were significant differences in the group, timing, group, and interaction in the cervical and shoulder position angles (p<.05). The above results showed that the spinal stabilization exercise significantly improved the cervical disability index, balance ability change, and body shape change in patients with chronic neck pain. Future studies will analyze the specific changes in spinal structure through radiographic imaging to increase the validity of spinal stabilization exercise.