• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2008

Background: Traction has often been utilized to treat patients with a herniated lumbar disc. Currently, the most advanced type of traction therapy is non-surgical spinal decompression. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of decompression therapy in patients with a herniated lumbar disc based on clinical findings and symptoms. Methods: Sixty patients with herniated lumbar discs were included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, a decompression group (n = 30) and a traction group (n = 30). To evaluate the impact of decompression and traction therapy on the herniated disc, the clinical symptoms for each group were evaluated prior to and after treatment using the visual analogue scale (VAS), straight leg raising (SLR), the herniation index, and the disc height. Results: The VAS score was significantly lower in the decompression group ($2.0{\pm}0.2$) than the traction group ($3.9{\pm}0.2$) following treatment. In addition, the SLR angle was significantly higher in the decompression group ($79{\pm}1.5$) than the traction group ($63.3{\pm}1.9$). The herniation index was significantly lower in the decompression group ($217.6{\pm}19.1$) than the traction group ($259.5{\pm}16.4$). Finally, the disc height was not significant differences between pre-treatment and follow-up in two groups. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that decompression therapy for the treatment of patients suffering from a herniated lumbar disc has an effect on the pain, SLR, and herniation indices, not disc heights.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.29-34
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short term effects of the traction and decompression device, which is a newly developed domestic medical device, on pain and functional activity in patients with chronic low back pain with or without radicular pain. Methods: Forty patients with chronic low back pain were included and allocated to decompression (n=20) and traction groups (n=20). They received decompression or traction therapy for 20 minutes a day, 3 days per week for two weeks. For evaluating pain and functional activity, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back pain and the Oswestry back pain disability index (ODI) were obtained on pre-treatment, and at 6, 12 and 15 days after treatment. Patients'satisfaction levels were measured 15 days after treatment. Results: VAS was significantly decreased at 12 days and 15 days post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in both groups (p<0.05). ODI was significantly decreased at 12 days and 15 days post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in the decompression group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the VAS and ODI scales (p>0.05). Patients' satisfaction levels were significantly higher in the decompression group than in the traction group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that decompression therapy might be effective for increasing functional activity in patients with low back pain and could provide patients with higher satisfaction than traction therapy. This study provided validity data for the therapeutic effects of the decompression device in patients with low back pain and it will be useful for medical cost development and patient education of this device.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1420-1425
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of traction and decompression therapies on the cervical muscle tone and disc height. The decompression group (n=16) received decompression therapy and Mckenzie exercises once a day and four times a week respectively, for three weeks. The traction group (n=15) also received traction therapy and Mckenzie exercises for the same period. Muscle tone was measured with a myotonometer, and the disk height was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), before the interventions. Three weeks later, we investigated the therapeutic effect by repeating these measurements. The difference in disk height between the two groups was not significant. There was a significant difference in the disk herniation index (p<.05). A significant difference was found only in the upper trapezius muscle after comparison of muscle tone and stiffness between the groups (p<.05). Findings from this study suggest that the decompression therapy is a more effective intervention for patients with cervical intervertebral disc herniation.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2003

Object: To evaluate the efficiencies of the arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery which is Performed without the traction system in the lateral decubitus position. Methods: Twenty-nine cases of the arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery performed without the traction system in the lateral decubitus position were studied from February, 2002 to January, 2005. We performed a repair using the arthroscopic debridement and the arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, or using the mini-open incision technique after the confirmation of rotator cuff tear, then, the arthroscopic subacromial decompression was performed after the confirmation of subacromial lesions Results: We could easily find the subscapularis tear which was often overlooked in the arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery performed with the traction surgery by the relaxation of the subscapularis, as the arm position was internally rotate about 45 to 70 degrees from abducted position. We found that the operation time was reduced 14 minutes shorter than the operation time of the controlled group which had the surgery with the traction system on the average. We also found that there were no neurovascular complications from all cases. Conclusions: The arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery without traction system in the lateral decubitus position provided the better visual field, easy manipulation of the joint and reducing operation time.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.336-343
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• 2013

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of 4 weeks course of motorized spinal decompression delivered via SpineMT(mobilization & traction) combined with therapeutic modalities on the treatment of patients with lumbar radiculopathy(LRP). A total of 15 patients with LRP (mean age, 36.63 years; age range 20-50years) participated in this study. 4 weeks course of spinal decompression delivered via SpineMT combined with therapeutic modalities was delivered to the patients for 6 days per week for the first two weeks, and four times per week for two additional weeks. The entire treatment consisted of 20 visits over 4 week period. Comparisons of changes in the muscle strengthening (MS), straight leg raise (SLR), and Oswestry disability index (ODI) at pre-intervention, after 10 treatment sessions, and at discharge (after 20 treatment sessions) were analyzed. There were significant improvements in the outcome measures of MS test, SLR test, and ODI score after 10 and 20 sessions of spinal decompression treatment combined with therapeutic modalities as compared with the pre-intervention(p<0.05). Spinal decompression treatment combined with therapeutic modalities appears to be a safe and efficacious, noninvasive treatment modality for patients with LRP.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of the study is to compare the effects and efficacy of both treatments. Methods : 2 groups were divided among 6 patients who admitted to Jeonju Wonkwang hospital attached to Wonkwang University from 2009. jan. 1 to 2009. feb. 28 were diagnosed as herniated lumbar disc by lumbar CT or MRI. Each groups were treated by decompression therapy and chuna traetment daily and were measured under visual analogue scale and ODI score starting from the day of admission, after 1week, and second week to compare the results. Results and Conclusions : Decompression therapy and chuna treatment both showed effects on treating the patients though chuna traetment apparently revealed to be slightly more efficient. Due to the lack of abundant clinical data it was not objective in a strict sense but it was clinically meaningful enough.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.164-164
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• 2008

The beach-chair traction position is designed to allow the use of traction while allowing the surgeon to orient the shoulder in an upright position and convert to an open procedure, if necessary. The patient is placed in the beach-chair position under general anesthesia. A three-point shoulder holder (Arthrex, Naples, Florida) is attached to the rail of the operating table on the same side as the surgeon, whereas it is placed on the side opposite the surgeon in the lateral decubitus position. A shoulder traction and rotation sleeve (Arthrex) are affixed to the arm following the manufacturer's instructions. Positioning the thumb toward the closed side of the sleeve ensures a field for the anterior portion of the rotator cuff and prevents the tendency of the suspension apparatus to place the arm in internal rotation. The arm is maintained in 30 to 40 degree abduction and 30 to 40 degree flexion by controlling the length and height of the bar and the location of the universal clamp. The universal clamp allows multiple planes of adjustment to control abduction and forward movement of the arm. The sleeve is attached to the longitudinal traction cable using a sterile hook, and a lateral strap is secured around the proximal portion of the sleeve to the overhead traction cable to ensure a field for glenohumeral reconstruction. The use of a lateral strap permits ideal shoulder positioning for improved access to the anterior and inferior glenohumeral joint. The lateral strap can be released or removed to widen the subacromial space during subacromial decompression or rotator cuff repair. A 10-lb weight is attached to the longitudinal traction cable for an average-sized person.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2015

Impacted teeth occur at higher frequencies in permanent than primary dentition. The most frequently affected teeth are the maxillary and mandibular third molars, whereas it is quite uncommon for the mandibular first molar to be impacted. Treatment methods for impacted teeth include continuous examination for independent eruption, surgical exposure, subluxation after surgical exposure, orthodontic traction, and surgical repositioning. If all of these treatments fail, tooth extraction may be considered. In the first case study, an 8-year-old boy was treated with surgical exposure, after which he was fitted with an obturator. His mandibular first molar then erupted successfully. In the second case, we treated a 12 year-old boy using orthodontic traction. This study describes children with tooth eruption disorders of the mandibular first molar in mixed dentition, and reports acceptable results regarding treatment of the impacted teeth.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.49-51
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• 2013

A case of traumatic spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at the C6-C7 level is reported. The patient was treated succesfully with a anterior-posterior combined approach and decompression. The patient had good neurological outcome after surgery. A-51-year-old female patient was transported to our hospital's emergency department after a vehicle accident. The patient was quadriparetic (Asia D, MRC power 4/5) with severe neck pain. Plain radiographs, computerize tomography and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed C6-7 spondyloptosis and C5, C6 posterior element fractures. Gardner-Wells skeleton traction was applied. Spinal alignment was reachived by traction and dislocation was decreased to a grade 1 spondylolisthesis. Then the patient was firstly operated by anterior approach. Anterior stabilization and fusion was firstly achieved. Seven days after first operation the patient was operated by a posterior approach. The posterior stabilization and fusion was achieved. Postoperative lateral X-rays and three-dimensional computed tomography showed the physiological realignment and the correct screw placements. The patient's quadriparesis was improved significantly. Subaxial cervical spondyloptosis is a relatively rare clinical entity. In this report we present a summary of the clinical presentation, the surgical technique and outcome of this rarely seen spinal disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.534-539
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• 2020

The management of severe scoliosis remains a challenge to spine surgeons. The rapid intraoperative correction of severe scoliosis may increase the risk of perioperative complications, such as neurological compromise and implant failure. To minimize these risks, various preoperative traction methods have been employed to achieve partial correction before performing definitive corrective surgery. On the other hand, some studies have shown that one of the complications associated with halo traction could lead to cranial nerve palsy, with the sixth nerve (abducens nerve) being most commonly affected. To reduce the complications, gradual increases in the traction weight and detailed neurological examinations are needed, particularly for patients who have previously undergone brain or cervical surgery. The authors report a case of sixth cranial nerve palsy by preoperative halo-pelvic traction in patients with severe scoliosis who underwent previous decompression surgery for a Chiari I malformation with a review of the relevant literature.