• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.879-885
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• 2018

Background: A herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) triggers low back pain (LBP). Korean conservative treatment can decrease the herniated disc size without traditional surgery, but detailed prognosis is unclear. Case summary: One patient presented with LBP and bilateral sciatica. She was diagnosed with lumbar HIVD by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and treated by Korean medicine (acupuncture, decoction, and physical therapy). For 6 months, MRI follow-up exams showed the aggravation and migration of L5-S1 followed by distinct improvement of the same lumbar vertebra. Conclusion: The disc size in a patient with lumbar HIVD was reduced by Korean conservative treatment, and periodic radiologic examination showed the previously unrecognized process of absorbing the disc.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.432-437
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• 2006

Objective : In order to establish the index of degeneration, the authors performed a histochemical study with Safranin-O staining and investigated the occurrence of apoptosis in the human intervertebral disc. Methods : Eighteen intervertebral disc specimens surgically extracted from the patients and two additional specimens from the autopsied cases were stained with Safranin-O for proteoglycan according to a standard protocol. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate- biotin nick end labeling[TUNEL] was used to detect the fragmented DNA known to be associated with apoptotic cell death and classification scheme was formulated for categorization of the degree of Safranin-O staining [normal, moderate reduction, faint] by modification of Makin's histological-histochemical grading. The Kruskal-Wallis H test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results : The statistical results showed a significant difference in the mean age between "normal" Safranin-O staining group and the others [19.3 versus 55, 43.4, p=0021]. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between Safranin-O staining and MR grading of disc degeneration. Only six of eighteen surgical specimens and none in autopsies showed positive apoptotic cells in TUNEL staining. Conclusion : The determination of the degree of degeneration in surgically obtained disc tissue per se by histochemical staining or by the degree of apoptosis that corresponds to its morphologic change was not feasible.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.39-47
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the clinical effects of thread embedding acupuncture on lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients. Methods : This is a retrospective study based on clinical charts. Despite the treatments of acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy during admission period, 10 lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients who had shown few improvements in their symptoms were selected as subjects. Thread embedding acupuncture was conducted to reduce patient pain. Patient progress was categorized into three periods based on when the embedding procedure performed. Verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and a 5 step evaluation scale for satisfaction were used to analyze the outcome. Results : Regarding comparison of VNRS improvement rate, both 3 and 6 days after embedding progress showed significant difference compared to before embedding progress. ODI improvement rate showed significant difference only 6 days after embedding progress. Patients' satisfaction with treatment had increased by several degrees. Conclusion : Thread embedding acupuncture for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc patients may be effective in reducing pain and improving their quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.27-40
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is comparative with administrative and clinical standard of conservative treatment on herniated intervertebral lumbar disc patients. The persons who diagnosed to herniated intervertebral lumbar disc were attended in this study. The number of cases were 120 cases. We evaluated their chart, X-ray and MRI. The result of the group 1 study(60 cases) were as follows; 1. The patients who treated for 41days were improved 100%, which was 3cases(5%). 2. The patients who treated for 45days were improved 90%, which was 13cases(22%). 3. The patients who treated for 43days were improved 80%, which was 28cases(47%). 4. The patients who treated for 39days were improved 70%, which was 6cases(10%). 5. The patients who treated for 28days were improved 60%, which was 5cases(28%). 6. The patients who treated for 22days were improved 50%, which was 4cases(7%). 7. The patient who treated for 28days were improved 40%, which was 1case(2%). The result of the group 2 study(60 cases) were as follows; 1. The patients who treated by administrative standard were improved 40%, which was 8cases(13%). 2. The patients who treated by administrative standard wereimproved 30%, which was 32cases(53%). 3. The patients who treated by administrative standard wereimproved 20%, which was 7cases(12%). 4. The patients who treated by administrative standard were improved 10%, which was 9cases(15%). 5. The patients who treated by administrative standard wereimproved 0%, which was 4cases(7%). Conclusion ; In herniated intervertebral lumbar disc patients who had conservative treatment. The highest improve patients were 28 cases(47%), who treated for 43 days in group 1. The lowest improve patient were 4 case(7%), who treated by administrative standard in group 2. The Effective duration of conservative treatment was more than 43 days in group 1. Group 1 which applied to clincal standard was much batter than group 2 which applied to administrative standard.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.81-89
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to explore the trends of acupoints used for lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and treatment and anatomical location of Hwatahyeopcheock. Methods : We searched the latest clinical studies on acupuncture treatment for lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) through domestic studies search. To analyze the data, we categorized them by year and article types of literatures and investigated often-used acupoints and acupuncture types for treatment by reading treatment part of every paper searched. Domestic and Chinese literatures related to Hwatahyeopcheock were also studied for its anatomical location. Results : Total 50 articles are searched and local points are more used than distant points for lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and most of them showed curative effects. Back-su points were used the most and Hwatahyeopcheock use accounted for one-third of the articles. In the articles of Hwatahyeopcheock use, except for one, patients complained of both low back pain and radiating pain, and all of them showed positive results after treatment. Conclusions : Back su point is considered to have its meaning as physical region where patients feel pain including herniated disc level rather than the effect meridian system makes. Through document research and meridian muscle theory, we found that Hwatahyeopcheock means vertebral facet joint, intervertebral foramen and surrounding muscle, nerve, blood vessel and related spinal nerves.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2013

Objectives : The Purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical application of conservative treatment including hip joint MST for lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and early developed avascular necrosis of femur head. Methods : Patient is hospitalized at Dept. of Oriental Internal Medicine, Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital, diagnosed as lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and early developed Avascular Necrosis of Femur Head and treated by herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and hip joint MST. This study was measured by NRS(Numeric Rating Scale), ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) and ROM(range of motion). Results : After conservative treatment, the patient's pain was controlled and NRS score was decreased. ODI and ROM also were improved. Conclusions : As seen in this one case, Oriental conservative treatment including hip joint MST has a positive effect to control pain with lumbar HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc) and early developed avascular necrosis of femur head.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of Korean medical treatments combined with acupotomy on patients diagnosed with a herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of twenty in patients diagnosed with a herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine. They had received Korean medical treatment combined with acupotomy on tender points in the gluteus minimus muscle and piriformis muscle at Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital of Dong-Shin University from April, 2014 to December, 2014. To evaluate the efficacy of the treatments, the twenty in patients were asked to complete the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) before acupotomy, the first day after acupotomy, the third day after acupotomy, and the fifth day after acupotomy. Results : 1. NRS significantly decreased from $6.15{\pm}1.27$ to $3.90{\pm}1.45$. 2. ODI significantly decreased from $23.64{\pm}8.76$ to $15.95{\pm}7.35$. Conclusions : Korean medical treatment combined with acupotomy on tender points in the gluteus minimus muscle and piriformis muscle might be effective in reducing pain and improving the life quality of patients with a herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine. We hope that further studies will be done to produce more clinical data and ensure effective application of these results.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to statistically analyze the treatment effect and patient satisfaction of traditional Korean medicine, including acupotomy treatment of cervical herniated intervertebral disc. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 22 patients who received traditional Korean medicine including acupotomy treatment amongst all patients diagnosed with cervical herniated intervertebral discs at the Korean Medicine hospital in Daejeon, Korean, from January 01, 2020 to April 30, 2021. The clinical data from patient medical records were statistically analyzed. Results: The Numeric Rating Scale, the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions, and the European Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale questionnaire scores were each compared before and after traditional Korean medicine treatment, including acupotomy, showed significantly improved scores after treatment (p < 0.001). Out of a total of 22 patients, 11 rated the treatment "very satisfactory" (50%), 5 "satisfactory" (22.7%), 5 "indifferent" (22.7%), 1 "unsatisfactory" (4.5%), and 0 "very unsatisfactory" (0%). Of the total 22 patients, 17 patients (77.3%) were willing to have further treatment, and 5 patients (22.7%) were not willing. Conclusion: Traditional Korean medicine treatment including acupotomy was an effective treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral discs. To determine the effect of an individual application (e.g., acupotomy) of traditional Korean medicine treatment for cervical herniated intervertebral disc, a prospective, controlled study is needed.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.334-341
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• 2022

A decrease in the paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and functional cross-sectional area (FCSA) are associated with low back pain and disc herniation in humans. This study examined whether chronicity or lateralization of disc herniation affects the CSA and FCSA of the paraspinal muscles. The CSA and FCSA of the paraspinal muscles between the 12th and 13th thoracic vertebrae were measured in 31 dogs with intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). The muscle CSA and FCSA were evaluated by dividing the values of the body weight, spinal disc CSA, and spinal canal CSA to offset the differences in body type between subjects. In the chronic IVDH group, the ratio of the paraspinal muscle CSA divided by the body weight was significantly lower, and fat infiltration in the paraspinal muscle was significantly higher than in the acute group. The lateralization of the disc herniation was significantly related to the changes in the paraspinal muscle CSA. In the right-sided disc herniation group, right epaxial muscle CSA was significantly reduced compared to the left-sided disc herniation group. The change in the paraspinal muscle might be a helpful indicator to localize less obvious disc pathologies and target the search for the pathology responsible for disc-related symptoms in dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.467-469
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• 2017

Signalment: A 7-month-old, female domestic shorthaired cat was presented for acute pelvic limb paraparesis. Results: There was no abnormality on survey radiographs and blood analysis, however neurological examination revealed proprioception positioning and hopping was absent in the pelvic limbs. Also, anal tone and perineal sensation were reduced. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed nucleus pulposus dehydration and disc protrusion at T12-T13. Ill-defined diffuse lesion was found at T10-L2 level and it showed isointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. This lesion was considered as edematous lesion secondary to disc protrusion. The presumptive diagnosis was focal spinal cord edema associated with intervertebral disc protrusion. A traumatic aetiology was suspected. The cat was treated corticosteroids and analgesic and clinical sign improved following 9 days of treatment. Clinical relevance : Intervertebral disc protrusion is rare disease in a cat. However, it could be considered as a cause of paraparesis in cats.