• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.252-264
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• 2023

Background: The primary aim of this study is to statistically analyze and compare the difference in treatment outcomes based on the frequency and duration of acupotomy treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Methods: The evaluation of efficacy and safety involved using visual analog scale (VAS), numeric rating scale (NRS), Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), EuroQol 5-dimention (EQ-5D), and similar parameters. This was achieved through the establishment of a comparable cohort using propensity score matching. Group A comprised 46 patients who underwent 4 sessions of acupotomy treatment for 2 weeks, while Group B consisted of 15 patients who received 6 acupotomy sessions for 3 weeks. Results: For Group A, the average amount of change in VAS values at weeks 4 and 6 was significantly decreased. However, the average amount of change in RMDQ values was not significant. Notably, the average amount of change of EQ-5D values at week 6 increased significantly. As for Group B, the average amount of change of NRS values in weeks 2 and 3 was significantly decreased. Conversely, the average amount of change in RMDQ and EQ-5D values was not significant. In comparing the 2 groups at the final follow-up, the average amount of change in all evaluation values was not significant. Further, no significant interaction effect was observed in the changes over time in all evaluation values between the 2 groups. Conclusion: This study establishes that there was no statistically significant difference in pain reduction, functional impairment, and quality of life improvement between 2 group.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.122-127
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• 2011

A 5-year old, intact male, Cocker spaniel dog was referred with paraplegia and loss of deep pain perception. Physical, neurological examinations, radiography, and computed tomography were evaluated. Based on the clinical examinations, the dog was diagnosed with severe disc herniation ($L_2$ to $L_3$ intervertebral disc space). On the next day of presentation (6 days after loss of deep pain perception), hemilaminectomy was performed. After decompression of spinal cord and removal of herniated disc materials, $1{\times}10^6$ canine allogenic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) diluted by $50{\mu}l$ saline were directly applied to the injured site of the spinal cord. Ten weeks of follow-up after surgery, full recovery of deep pain perception and motor function were evaluated in both hind limbs. Based on the result, we suggest that the transplantation of allogenic adipose tissue-derived MSCs to dogs with spinal cord injuries could be a considerable method to expect better clinical outcomes in veterinary practice.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.164-172
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• 1998

The Graf stabilization has been introduced in treating lumbar spinal disorder associated with posterior instability. This study reviewed some problems of the Graf instrumentation as a soft stabilizer. The purpose of this study is to analyse the problems of the soft stabilization in spinal instability. We reviewed 145 cases which were operative treatment using the Graf instrument for lumbar spinal disorder associated with posterior instability at our department from May, 1991 to Dec, 1995. The mean follow up periods was 29 months ranging from 24 months to 6 years 8 months. Of the 145 cases, 22 cases were showed the problem. The diagnostic method were simple x-ray, flexion-extension lateral stress view and CT scan. Results were as follows: Adjacent segmental instability was 10 cases(6.9%), disc space narrowing was 8 cases(5.5%), screw loosening was 3 cases(2.1%) and breakage of the Graf band was 1 case(0.6%). The problems of the soft stabilization were adjacent segmental instability, disc space narrowing, screw loosening, and breakage of the Graf band. But the rate of adjacent segmental instability and disc space narrowing was lower than other lumbar spinal instrumentation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of MSAT (Motion style acupuncture treatment) using Sandbag regarding low back pain with HIVD of L-SPINE. Methods Forty patients received inpatient treatment from March 16 to May 16, 2015 in the Daejon-Jaseng oriental medicine hospital were divided into 2 groups by blocked randomization: Group A (n=20) is routine treatment on HIVD of L-SPINE with MSAT using Sandbag and Group B (n=20) is routine treatment on HIVD of L-SPINE (acupuncture, Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, herb medication, chuna treatment and physiotherapy). The MSAT (Motion style acupuncture treatment) using Sandbag was administered each day and both groups were received routine treatment each day. Evaluations were made before treatment, after 3 days and 7 days, and before discharge using the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index). The statistically significance was evaluated by SPSS 22.0 for windows. Results The NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index) of both A and B groups after 3, 7 days and before discharge of treatment significantly decreased (p<0.05). Regarding group comparison, the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index) of A group was significantly lower than the B group at 3, 7 days, before discharge (p<0.05). Regarding improvement of the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index), A group was significantly lower than the B group at 3 day (NRS), 7 day (ODI) (p<0.05). There was significant difference between two groups at 7 days (NRS) and before discharge (p<0.05). Conclusions Compared to routine treatment, the MSAT (Mostion style acuputure treatment) using Sandbag significantly improved the NRS (numeric rating scale) and ODI (oswestry disability index) after 3, 7 days, and before discharge. Because early intervention determines the grade of Low back pain with HIVD of L-SPINE, the MSAT (Motion style acupuncture treatment) using Sandbag will be clinically helpful to patients at the early stage.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2006

Objective : It Is known that depression disorder has been related to chronic pains such as HIVD and physical harm. We propose that chronic cervical and lumbar herniations of intervertebral disc patients have emotional and psychiatric problems, therefore we compared it to Beck's Depression Inventory scores. Method : We divided them into two groups: The groups consisted of cervical and lumbar HIVD patients. We then requested them to fill out BDI research questionnaires, and evaluated patients according to the information and results. Result : The Beck's Depression Inventory mean score for the cervical - lumbar HIVD group was $14.00{\pm}5.80$, $10.83{\pm}$5.64 each. Higher Scores were recorded for cervical HIVD group than the lumbar HIVD group. Conclusion : There is statistical significance among two groups.(p<.05) however, the two groups' BDI score were lower than the defined boundary line of Depression disorder(16 points).

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.208-214
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• 2012

Objective : Discal cyst is rare and causes indistinguishable symptoms from lumbar disc herniation. The clinical manifestations and pathological features of discal cyst have not yet been completely known. Discal cyst has been treated with surgery or with direct intervention such as computed tomography (CT) guided aspiration and steroid injection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the percutaneous endoscopic surgery for lumbar discal cyst over at least 6 months follow-up. Methods: All 8 cases of discal cyst with radiculopathy were treated by percutaneous endoscopic surgery by transforaminal approach. The involved levels include L5-S1 in 1 patient, L3-4 in 2, and L4-5 in 5. The preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and 3-dimensional CT with discogram images in all cases showed a connection between the cyst and the involved intervertebral disc. Over a 6-months period, self-reported measures were assessed using an outcome questionaire that incorporated total back-related medical resource utilization and improvement of leg pain [visual analogue scale (VAS) and Macnab's criteria]. Results : All 8 patients underwent endoscopic excision of the cyst with additional partial discectomy. Seven patients obtained immediate relief of symptoms after removal of the cyst by endoscopic approach. There were no recurrent lesions during follow-up period. The mean preoperative VAS for leg pain was $8.25{\pm}0.5$. At the last examination followed longer than 6 month, the mean VAS for leg pain was $2.25{\pm}2.21$. According to MacNab' criteria, 4 patients (50%) had excellent results, 3 patients (37.5%) had good results; thus, satisfactory results were achieved in 7 patients (87.5%). However, one case had unsatisfactory result with persistent leg pain and another paresthesia. Conclusion : The radicular symptoms were remarkably improved in most patients immediately after percutaneous endoscopic cystectomy by transforaminal approach.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2013

Objective : The purposes of this study were to evaluate the prevalence, types, and locations of Modic changes (MCs) in the thoracic spine in a large number of subjects, and to investigate the relation between the distributions of MCs and disc herniations (DHs) in the thoracic spine. Methods : Two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the presence of MCs and DHs by consensus in the thoracic MRIs of 144 patients with non-specific back pain. Patient ages ranged from 22 to 88 years (mean=$53.3{\pm}14.66$ years), and 72 were female (50%). The prevalence, distribution, relation of MCs and DHs was recorded. Results : MC was observed in 8 of the 144 patients (5.6%) and 10 of 1728 segments (0.58%). The most common MC was type II. Of the 8 patients exhibiting MC, 6 had type II (75.0%), and 2 had mixed MCs (type I/II or type II/III). MCs were distributed mainly at the mid-thoracic level (from T5/6 to T9/10). DH was detected in 18 patients (12.5%), 36 of 1728 segments (2.1%). Of the 10 segments exhibiting MC, 5 had DHs at the same level (50.0%). Accordingly, DH was strongly associated with MC (p=0.000). Conclusion : A low prevalence of MC was observed in the thoracic spine, and type II MC predominated. The low prevalence of MC in the thoracic spine suggests that it was caused by a relative lack of mobility as compared with the cervical and lumbar spines. And DHs were found to be strongly associated with MCs even in the thoracic spine.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.75-80
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• 2003

Lumbar spinal stenosis results from the progressive combined narrowing of the central spinal canal, the neurorecesses, and the neuroforaminal canals. In the absence of prior surgery, tumor, or infection, the spinal canal may become narrowed by bulging or protrusion of the intervertebral disc annulus, herniation of the nucleus pulposis posteriorly, thickening of the posterior longitudinal ligament, hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum, epidural fat deposition, spondylosis of the intervertebral disc margins, or a combination of two or more of the above factors. Patients with spinal stenosis become symptomatic when pain, motor weakness, paresthesia, or other neurologic compromise causes distress. In one case, we administrated oriental medical treatment with acupuncture treatment and herb-medicine. Oriental medical treatment showed desirable effect on lumbar spinal stenosis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2013

Background: Neuroplasty using a Racz catheter or epiduroscope and percutaneous endoscopic laser discectomy are performed as treatment for chronic refractory low back and/or lower extremity pain, but they are limited in that they cannot completely remove the causing pathology. Lately, epiduroscopic laser neural decompression (ELND) has been receiving attention as an alternative treatment, but there are insufficient reports of results. Hence we aimed to investigate and report the data in our hospital. Methods: Seventy-seven patients were selected who had received ELND via the anterior and posterior epidural approach through the pain clinic in our hospital from March 2011 to July 2012. Their medical records including age, diagnosis, epiduroscopic findings and degree of symptom relief were investigated. The degree of symptom relief following the procedure was categorized into 5 stages of very good (5), good (4), no change (3), bad (2), and very bad (1) at 2 weeks and 1 month after the procedure. Results: The subjects were 30 males and 47 females. Mean age was 54.6 for males and 59.6 for females, so the overall mean age was 58.1 years old, with the youngest being 23 and the oldest 88 years old. In epiduroscopic images of all patients, more than one situation of herniated disc, fibrous tissue and adhesion, or inflammation was observed. Sixty-seven patients (87.0%) showed symptom relief 2 weeks after the procedure and 63 patients (81.8%) showed relief after 1 month. Conclusions: ELND is considered to be an effective treatment alternative for chronic refractory low back and/or lower extremity pain, including lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery syndrome which cannot be alleviated with existing non-invasive conservative treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.894-900
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of traditional Korean medicine as a treatment for a diabetic patient diagnosed with herniated intervertebral lumbar discs. Methods: We treated the patient with herbal medicines, acupuncture, herbal acupuncture therapy, and physical therapy. We measured the state and progress of this case with the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We also checked serum glucose levels (FBS/PP2hrs) regularly. Results: After treatment, the NRS score was decreased, the ODI score was improved, and the blood glucose level was stabilized. The overall symptoms of the patient showed positive improvement.