• 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.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2014

Objective : The purpose of this study is to offer a new approach to diagnostic X-ray in perspective of Chuna manual medicine for clinical application. Methods : Characteristics of each malposition in X-ray were analyzed comprehensively, based on the listing system. By verifying these results, find out the methods of X-ray diagnosis according to the each malposition. Results : 1. Vertebral malposition can be explained by alignment and relative position of vertebral body in the X-ray. To obtain more accurate estimation of subluxation, features of other structures should be considered, such as spinous process, intervertebral foramen and disc space. 2. Pelvic malposition can be determined by relative location of anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) in the X-ray. Also other pelvic parameters should be utilized to make a diagnosis of sacral malposition. Conclusions : Diagnostic X-ray should be applied to many clinicians for reasonable Chuna manual medicine application. And further studies are needed to use the diagnostic X-ray in the perspective of Chuna manual medicine.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.209-219
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• 1997

Objectives: Anterior approach to achieve arthrodesis of the cervical spine has become a widely accepted and often-used approach since its earliest reports by Bailey and Badgley, Smith and Robinson and Cloward. However, anterior interbody fusion in the presence of the posterior instability may be complicated by the bone graft dislodgement, kyphotic defomity or nonunion. As an attemp to prevent this undesirable complication, additional methods such as skeletal traction, halo appratus or even posterior fusion has been utilized. Therefore, The cervical spine locking plate(CSLP) with the anterior intervertebral body bone grafting provide immediate cervical stabilization and widely successful in achieving fusion. Material and methods: This study analysed 14 patients who underwent a single anterior procedure and application of CSLP for the treatment of the cervical spinal disorder. Eleven patients were disc herniations and three patients were traumatic lesion. The average age of the patient was 47 years and the mean follow up periods was 20 months ranging from 13 to 27 months. Results: Ambulation was started 2nd day after the operation with the aid of the Philadelpia orthoses. Bone union was observed 13 cases on average 12 weeks after operation. The one case was nonunion with plate breakage without clinical symptom. Conclusion: Anterior fusion with CSLP are thought to be a safe and valuable method for treating cervical spine disorder.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.288-292
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• 2013

Objective : Vertebral distraction is routinely performed during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Overdistraction can injure the facet joints and may cause postoperative neck pain consequently. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of distraction force during ACDF. Methods : This study included 24 consecutive patients with single level cervical disc disease undergoing single level ACDF. We measure the maximum torque just before the the arm of the Caspar retractor was suspended by the rachet mechanism by turning the lever on the movable arm using a torque meter. In order to turn the lever using the torque driver, we made a linear groove on the top of the lever. We compared the neck disability index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between the high torque group (distraction force>6 $kgf{\cdot}cm$) and the low torque group (distraction force${\leq}6kgf{\cdot}cm$) at routine postoperative intervals of 1, 3, 5 days and 1, 3, 6 months. Results : The VAS scores for posterior neck pain had a linear correlation with torque at postoperative 1st and 3rd days ($y=0.99{\times}-1.1$, $r^2=0.82$; $y=0.77{\times}-0.63$, $r^2=0.73$, respectively). VAS scores for posterior neck pain were lower in the low torque group than in the high torque group on both 1 and 3 days postoperatively ($3.1{\pm}1.3$, $2.6{\pm}1.0$ compared with $6.0{\pm}0.6$, $4.9{\pm}0.8$, p<0.01). However, the difference in NDI scores was not statistically significant in all postoperative periods. Conclusion : Vertebral distraction may cause posterior neck pain in the immediate postoperative days. We recommend not to distract the intervertebral disc space excessively with a force of more than 6.0 $kgf{\cdot}cm$.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.225-228
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• 2007

The therapy by injection-acupuncture (AP) with bee-venom (apitoxin) and injection-AP with apitoxin combined by administration of Chinese herbal medicine was applied in 2 cases with canine intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Case 1 was diagnosed as thoraco-lumbar IVDD (T11-T12, T12-T13, L3-L4 and L4-L5) and case 2 was diagnosed as IVDD at T10-T11 and T12-T13, respectively Injection-AP with apitoxin($Apitoxinc{(R)}$, total $200{\mu}g$ of apitoxin, 0.1 ml/acupoint) plus physical exercise (walking with gocart, TID/day) and aquatherapy (swimming treatment, BID/week) were given to each patient. The used acupoints were GV20 (Bai Hui), GB30 (Huan Tiao), ST36 (Zu San Li), GB34 (Yang Ling Quan), ST40 (Feng Long), ST41 (Jie Xi) and BL40 (Wei Zhong), the lesions, and trigger points. In addition, Chinese herbal medicine (Koda Pharmaceutical Co., Taiwan) including Zheng Gu Zi Jin Dan (正骨紫金丹 : 1 g), Shiuh Duann(續斷 : 0.2 g), Du Zhong(杜仲 : 0.2 g), Mo Yao(沒藥 : 0.2 g), Ru Xian(乳香 : 0.2 g) and Pyrite(自然銅 : 0.2 g) were orallly mdeicated BID for 0\9days in case 2. Walking was possible after session 11 for 4 weeks in case 1 and after session 6 for 2 weeks in case 2, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

Objective : Infectious spinal disease is regarded as an infection by a specific organism that affects the vertebral body, intervertebral disc and adjacent perivertebral soft tissue. Its incidence seems to be increasing as a result of larger proportion of the older patients with chronic debilitating disease, the rise of intravenous drug abuser, and the increase in spinal procedure and surgery. In Korea, studies assessing infectious spinal disease are rare and have not been addressed in recent times. The objectives of this study are to describe the epidemiology of all kind of spinal infectious disease and their clinical and microbiological characteristics as well as to assess the diagnostic methodology and the parameters related to the outcomes. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in all infectious spinal disease cases presenting from January 2005 to April 2010 to three tertiary teaching hospitals within a city of 1.5 million in Korea. Patient demographics, risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes were assessed. Risk factors entailed the presence of diabetes, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, immunosuppressants, remote infection, underlying malignancy and previous spinal surgery or procedure. We comparatively analyzed the results between the groups of pyogenic and tuberculous spinal infection. SPSS version 14 statistical software was used to perform the analyses of the data. The threshold for statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results : Ninety-two cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Overall, patients of tuberculous spinal infection (TSI) and pyogenic spinal infection (PSI) entailed 20 (21.7%) and 72 (78.3%) cases, respectively. A previous spinal surgery or procedure was the most commonly noted risk factor (39.1%), followed by diabetes (15.2%). The occurrence of both pyogenic and tuberculous spondylitis was predominant in the lumbar spine. Discs are more easily invaded in PSI. At initial presentation, white cell blood count and C-reactive protein levels were higher in PSI compared to TSI (p<0.05). Etiological agents were identified in 53.3%, and the most effective method for identification of etiological agents was tissue culture (50.0%). Staphyococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated infective agent associated with pyogenic spondylitis, followed by E. coli. Surgical treatment was performed in 31.5% of pyogenic spondylitis and in 35.0% of tuberculous spondylitis cases. Conclusion : Many previous studies in Korea usually reported that tuberculous spondylitis is the predominant infection. However, in our study, the number of pyogenic infection was 3 times greater than that of tuberculous spinal disease. Etiological agents were identified in a half of all infectious spinal disease. For better outcomes, we should try to identify the causative microorganism before antibiotic therapy and make every effort to improve the result of culture and biopsy.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.73-82
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this review is to investigate studies of Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture and the evidence of it's effects in order to suggest a better research method in the future. Methods We retrieved numbers of clinical studies about Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture from 7 Korean web databases, using key words such as 'Scolopendrid', 'Scolopendrid AND Pharmacopuncture'. This study had been conducted from 1st May 2013 to 31th July 2013. Controlled studies and case studies were only used for this study. Clinical studies that we picked from the databases were classified according to the diseases that those studies are about, and from these clinical studies, we are to research what has to be improved generally in clinical researches. Results 18 case studies, 4 controlled studies had been under research. Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture has a therapeutic effect mainly in musculoskeletal and neurological diseases such as herniated intervertebral disc, carpal tunnel syndrome, swollen leg, feeling of cold on legs, wrist ganglion, lateral epicondylitis, radial nerve palsy, cervical myelopathy, cauda equina syndrome, postauricular pain; as an early symptom of Bell's palsy, pain of popliteal part, gout, plantar fasciitis, cellulitis, frozen shoulder, pain of hip adductors. However objectivity and reliability of the Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture studies still remains controversial. Conclusions It has been suggested that there are positive effects of Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture therapy in treating specific diseases (especially neuromusculoskeletal diseases). However, this narrative review can't conclude and prove that the Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture has positive effectiveness on these diseases unlike systematic review. So, in order to put Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture therapy to use for many kinds of diseases in more reasonable ways, it is essential to build well-designed clinical research tools. In the future, abundant case studies, more follow-up trials and randomized controlled trials based on the korean medicine should be done to use Scolopendrid pharmacopuncture for a clinical purpose.