• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.129-144
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• 2010

Objective : Traumatic lumbar burst fracture causes significant spinal cord injury. This report is intended to estimate the efficacy using oriental treatment on a patient with lumbar burst fracture and spinal cord injury. Methods : From 21th December, 2009 to 5th February, 2010, 1 female inpatient diagnosed with lumbar burst fracture and spinal cord injury was treated with general oriental medicine therapy : mae-sun therapy ; acupuncture ; moxibustion ; pharmacopuncture ; physical therapy and herbal medication. TUG, SCIMII and VAS were used for evaluation of gait disturbance and pain in both feet. Measurement of self voiding amount and remaining amount through CIC was used for evaluation of neurogenic vesical dysfunction. Results : The patient showed a certain degree of improvement in gait disturbance, pain in both feet and neurogenic vesical dysfunction through above evaluation methods. Conclusion : Oriental treatments such as mae-sun therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, pharmacopuncture therapy and herbal medication can be effective for spinal cord injury due to traumatic lumbar burst fracture.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.73-91
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• 2002

Method of management of the spine injury should be determined, based on the status of neurological injury as well as on the presence of traumatic instability. At the thoracic and lumbar spine, patterns of neurological injury are different from the cervical spine due to their neuro-anatomical characteristics. Especially, at the thoracolumbar junction, neurological injury patterns with their respective prognosis vary from the complete cord injury or conus medullaris syndrome to the cauda equina syndrome according to the injury level. The concept of Holdsworth's instability based on the posterior ligament complex theory has evolved into the current 3-column theory of Denis. Flexion-rotation injury and fracture-dislocation are well known to be unstable that surgical fixation is frequently needed for these injuries. However, there have been some controversies for the stability of burst fractures and their treatment, such as indirect or direct decompression and anterior or posterior approach. In this article, current concepts and management of traumatic instabilities at the thoracic and lumbar spine have been reviewed and summarized.