• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2008

Purpose: The majority of patients with radiculopathy caused by a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) heal spontaneously without surgery. The aim of this report is to describe the spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation and the results of clinical follow-up. Methods: Three patients with radiating low back pain presented with an extruded intervertebral disc on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We performed follow-up with conservative treatment (epidural injection, medication, physical therapy, exercise) and clinical assessments on the 6th, 10th and 22nd months. Results: The extruded intervertebral disc almost complete regressed, and correlated with clinical improvement and follow-up MRI. Conclusion: Conservative treatment can be an effective approach for a herniated lumbar discs if no neurological deficits are present.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.33-41
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of Korean Medicine treatment on lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and predictive factors associated with disc resorption by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods A retrospective study was carried out in 79 lumbar disc herniation patients who had visited Haeundae Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. Patients' diagnosis was based on MRI. MRI was performed on two or more occasions and patients were received Korean Medicine treatment within the period. The volume of each herniated disc was measured three-dimensionally and patient characteristics, interval between MRIs, herniated disc level, disc herniation type, disc migration, intactness of posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL), initial volume of herniated disc, modic change, disc resorption rate were statistically analyzed. Results The mean volumes of herniated discs before Korean Medicine treatment and after Korean Medicine treatment were $1,547.81{\pm}598.15mm^3$ and $947.06{\pm}335.28mm^3$, respectively. The mean resorption rate was $35.7{\pm}16.3%$. Disc extent, intactness of PLL and initial volume of herniated discs were significantly correlated with resorption rate (p=0.003, p=0.001 and p=0.024, respectively). Conclusions Korean Medicine treatment is an effective conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation. Factors such as disc migration, intactness of PLL, initial volume of herniated disc have a significant association with disc resorption rate.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제21권2호
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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.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.241-245
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• 2007

Objective : So called "minimally invasive procedures" have evolved from chemonucleolysis, automated percutaneous discectomy, arthroscopic microdiscectomy that are mainly working within the confines of intradiscal space to transforaminal endoscopic technique to remove herniated epidural disc materials directly. The purpose of this study is to assess the result of endoscopic spinal surgery and favorable indication in the thoracolumbar spine. Methods : The records of 71 patients, 73 endoscopic procedures, were retrospectively analysed. Yeung Endoscopic Spine Surgery system with 7 mm working sleeve and $25^{\circ}$ viewing angle was used. The mean follow up period was 6 months [range, 3-9]. Results : Operated levels were from T12-L1 disc down to L5-L6 of S1 disc. Of 71 cases, 2 patients underwent transforaminal endoscopic surgery twice due to recurrence after initial operation. MacNab's criteria was used to assess the outcome. Favorable outcome, excellent of good, was seen in 78% [57 procedures] of the patients. Among 11 fair outcomes, only 1 procedure was followed by secondary open procedure, laminectomy with discectomy. Two of 5 poor outcomes were operated again by same procedure which resulted in fair outcomes. One patient with aggravated cauda equina syndrome remained poor and a lumbar fusion procedure was performed in other patient with poor outcome. There were 2 postoperative discitis that were treated with conservative care in one and anterior lumbar interbody fusion in the other. Conclusion : Evolving technology of mechanical, visual instrument enables minimal invasive procedure possible and effective. The transforaminal endoscopic spinal surgery can reach as high as T12-L1 disc level. The rate of favorable outcome is mid-range among reported endoscopic lumbar surgery series. Authors believe that the outcome will be better as cases accumulate and will be able to reach the fate of standard open microsurgery.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.255-262
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• 1998

Lateral laminectomy was performed far spinal decompression in 7 thoracolumbar disc herniated dogs. These dogs showed upper motor neurologic signs including kyphosisi urinary dysfunction, and paraplegia or paralysis in hindlimbs. The lesions were evaluated with myelographic findings and predominated in $T_{12}-T_{13}, T_{13}-L_{1} and L_{1}-L_{2}$ discs. Five dogs which were operated within 48 hours after the onset of paraplegia were recovered from kyphosis and sustained the normal gait and walkings furthermore normal urination and defecation were presented within 3 days of postoperation. One dog was expired with steroid induced intestinal bleeding. The other dog operated on 96 hours after the onset of paraplegia was not recovered from neurologic deficits. Spinal decompression technique was considered to be useful method fur improving neurological problems resulted firom thoracolumbar disc herniation, if dogs are operated on early stage of the onset of paraplegia.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.31-39
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of distraction manipulation on the pain and. intervertebral disc angle in patients with herniated intervertebral lumbar discs. Methods: 30 patients who visited to receive the treatments of the physical therapy in W pain clinic in Daejeon. All subjects had been treated with flexion-distraction manipulation for 30 minutes per day and three times a week during 12 weeks period from June 10 to 19 August 2006. They were randomly divided into two groups: lumbar 4 and lumbar 5 group. Results: Pain of L4 and L5 group was significantly reduced after than before treatment(p<0.05). The intervertebral lumbar disc angle was significantly improved after than before treatment(p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that distraction manipulation has a effectiveness in patients with herniated lumbar disc.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.34-38
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• 2005

Background: Over the years, disc surgery has progressively evolved in the direction of decreasing trauma and its invasiveness. Conventional open surgery has many complications, such as scarring, instability, bleeding and a relative high mortality rate. Minimally invasive spinal surgery is now an alternative to a traditional discectomy. Herein, we present an operative technique, and the early results, for a percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy in herniated lumbar disc disease. Methods: 43 patients, including 27 men and 16 women, with ages ranging from 18 to 66 years, were enrolled in this study. All the patients showed a protruded or extruded soft disc herniation at the lumbar level on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. A percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy was applied to the patients, and clinical responses evaluated using MacNab's criteria. Results: 40 patients were regarded as showing successful responses (93.1%), and there were no severe complications, such as a hematoma, nerve injury, postoperative dysesthesia or death. One patient underwent fusion surgery for remnant back pain six month later. Conclusions: We conclude that, in properly selected patients, a percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy is a safe, noninvasive and effective treatment modality for herniated lumbar intervertebral disc disease.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.1248-1258
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the radiological and symptomatic changes in a patient with acute herniated lumbar disc due to coughing, treated with megadose pharmacopuncture and combined Korean medicine. Methods: MRI examination diagnosed an acute lumbar disc herniation by coughing. We performed a combination treatment of megadose pharmacopuncture and integrated Korean medicine. NRS, ODI, EQ-5D, SLR test, and big toe extension test were checked on admission, after two weeks, on discharge, and after four months to confirm symptom improvements. Results: In the acute stage of lumbar intervertebral disc rupture, megadose pharmacopuncture combined with Korean medicine treatment showed improvement in NRS, ODI, EQ-5D, SLRT, and big toe extension tests. In addition, absorption of the herniated intervertebral discs was observed through an MRI scan on discharge. Conclusions: For patients with herniated lumbar disc acutely deteriorated by coughing, a combination of megadose pharmacopuncture with Korean medicine treatment may be a solution.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.234-238
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• 2001

Percutaneous laser discectomy has potential advantages over conservative therapy and classical open surgery as a minimally invasive procedure, although clinical experiences are limited. We experienced a patient treated with herniated lumbar discs using Nd：YAG laser. A 55-year-old woman complained of severe back pain with sciatica on L4/5 and L5/S1 dermatome for several months. The MRI finding showed bulging discs at L4/5 and L5/S1. Epidural, transsacral and root block treatments were attempted without effect. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a 14 G biopsy needle was inserted into the L4/5 and L5/S1 disc spaces to the margin of the nucleus pulposus. Laser irradiation for vaporization of tissue was performed at 20 W/second to 1200 J. A laser fiber ($600{\mu}m$) was advanced 1 cm from the tip of the needle. At the end of the procedure, the patient began to feel relief of pain (VAS changed from 9 to 4) and was discharged the same day after staying 2 hours in the recovery room. Antibiotics were administered for prevention of discitis. She had no complaints of pain until the 1-month follow up visit. Percutaneous laser discetomy technique has the disadvantages of expensive equipment, high temperature and amount of vaporing disc tissue is empirical. However, this technique, as one of the therapeutic modalities for disc herniation, provides faster relief from acute attack than conservative management techniques in carefully selected patients with sciatica due to disc prolapse.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.117-126
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Megadose Pharmacoacupuncture combined with conservative Korean medicine treatment on Herniated InterVertebral Disc (HIVD) of lumbar spine patient diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Methods This study includes 41 patients whose Lumbar Disc Herniations were by MRIbetween 1st Aprill 2011 and 31th March 2016. All of the patients were treated with Megadose Pharmacoacupuncture combined with Korean medicine treatment. The MRI examination was performed on two or more occasions (minimally, pre-treatment and post-treatment). The volume of each herniated disc was measured. For each patient, age, sex, disc migration, morphology, initial LDH size, herniated disc resorption rate were analysed. Results The mean volumes of herniated discs at pre-treatment and post-treatment were $1321.62{\pm}467.53mm^3$ and $648.72{\pm}313.38mm^3$. The volumes of all patients were decreased. The resorption means of each class of the extent of LDH were significantly different (p=0.041). On the other hand, no difference was found in sex, age, level, herniated disc grade. Conclusions The MRI results suggest that Megadose Pharmacoacupuncture combined with Korean medicine treatment can help treat lumbar herniated disc.