Journal of Acupuncture Research

  • Volume 41
  • /
  • Pages.191-196
  • /
  • 2024
  • /
  • 2586-288X(pISSN)
  • /
  • 2586-2898(eISSN)
Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Integrative Korean Medicine Treatment for Pain after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Case Report

  • Taewook Lee (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Jihun Kim (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Soo Kwang An (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Yoona Oh (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Kun Hyung Kim (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Gi Young Yang (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital) ;
  • Eunseok Kim (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital)
  • Received : 2024.05.12
  • Accepted : 2024.07.02
  • Published : 2024.08.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is commonly used to treat cervical radiculopathy by decompressing and stabilizing the spine, but complications such as postoperative pain and adjacent-level disc degeneration remain. This report presents a case of a patient with persistent right arm pain after ACDF for a herniated disc at C5/6 and congenital ankylosis at C6/7. The patient experienced severe pain managed with painkillers, which initially worsened but improved significantly with integrative Korean Medicine treatment, including pharmacopuncture, acupotomy, acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine. Pain levels decreased from a Numerical Rating Scale of 8 to 3, and the Neck Disability Index improved from 19 to 8, enhancing fine motor skills like handwriting. This case suggests the potential of integrative Korean Medicine in improving recovery post-ACDF and highlights the need for further research despite limitations in generalizability due to the single-case study format.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a clinical research grant from Pusan National University Hospital in 2023.

References

  1. Engquist M, Lofgren H, Oberg B, Holtz A, Peolsson A, Soderlund A, et al. A 5- to 8-year randomized study on the treatment of cervical radiculopathy: anterior cervical decompression and fusion plus physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone. J Neurosurg Spine 2017;26:19-27. doi: 10.3171/2016.6.SPINE151427
  2. Ban D, Liu Y, Cao T, Feng S. Safety of outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Med Res 2016;21:34. doi: 10.1186/s40001-016-0229-6
  3. Fountas KN, Kapsalaki EZ, Nikolakakos LG, Smisson HF, Johnston KW, Grigorian AA, et al. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion associated complications. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2007;32:2310-2317. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e318154c57e
  4. Arima H, Naito K, Yamagata T, Kawahara S, Ohata K, Takami T. Anterior and posterior segmental decompression and fusion for severely localized ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine: technical note. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2019;59:238-245. doi: 10.2176/nmc.tn.2018-0324
  5. Bai J, Zhang X, Zhang D, Ding W, Shen Y, Zhang W, et al. Impact of over distraction on occurrence of axial symptom after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015;8:19746-19756.
  6. Tasiou A, Giannis T, Brotis AG, Siasios I, Georgiadis I, Gatos H, et al. Anterior cervical spine surgery-associated complications in a retrospective case-control study. J Spine Surg 2017;3:444-459. doi: 10.21037/jss.2017.08.03
  7. Xia B, Xie Y, Hu S, Xu T, Tong P. Effect of auricular point acupressure on axial neck pain after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a randomized controlled trial. Pain Med 2018;19:193-201. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnx112
  8. Yang JE, Oh MS. Comparison of ultrasound guided soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy effect and unguided soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy effect on cervical facet joint of acute cervical pain patient caused by traffic accidents: a retrospective study. J Korean Med Rehabil 2022;32:109-117. doi: 10.18325/jkmr.2022.32.3.109
  9. Manchikanti L, Rivera JJ, Pampati V, Damron KS, McManus CD, Brandon DE, et al. One day lumbar epidural adhesiolysis and hypertonic saline neurolysis in treatment of chronic low back pain: a randomized, double-blind trial. Pain Physician 2004;7:177-186.
  10. Hawker GA, Mian S, Kendzerska T, French M. Measures of adult pain: Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain), Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS Pain), McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Chronic Pain Grade Scale (CPGS), Short Form-36 Bodily Pain Scale (SF-36 BPS), and Measure of Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2011;63 Suppl 11:S240-S252. doi: 10.1002/acr.20543
  11. Busner J, Targum SD. The clinical global impressions scale: applying a research tool in clinical practice. Psychiatry (Edgmont) 2007;4:28-37.