• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was done to show the clinical effect of miniscalpel acupuncture treatment on osteoarthritis of the knee which is refractory to acupuncture treatment. Methods : A patient was treated with acupuncture for three weeks, non-treated(wash out period) for two weeks, and treated with miniscalpel acupuncture for three weeks. The effect of treatments were measured with Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Range of Motion(ROM), Short form McGill pain questionnaire(SF-MPQ), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC). Results : During the three weeks of acupuncture treatment, VAS, SF-MPQ and WOMAC improved, but after two weeks of the wash out period each score worsened. During the three weeks of miniscalpel acupuncture VAS, SF-MPQ, and WOMAC improved while ROM improved remarkably. Conclusion : These results suggest that miniscalpel acupuncture might be a therapeutic option for knee degenerative osteoarthritis patients who does not responded to acupuncture treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2021

A 57-year-old female diagnosed with L5-S1 lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, suffering from severe pain despite taking tapentadol received combined Korean medicine treatment, including acupotomy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal therapies for 53 days. To assess pain, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and lumbar range of motion (ROM) were checked daily from the day of admission. Moreover, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) were used to evaluate function and quality of life. After combined Korean medicine treatment, reabsorptioin of intervertebral disc was confirmed by radiological examination; pain reduced from NRS 5~7 to NRS 1~2; lumbar ROM in extention increased from 20° to 30°; and function and quality of life improved. The results suggest the possibility that a combined Korean medical treatment, including acupotomy, can be used as an alternative to opioids for pain management of lumbar vertebral disc herniation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.19-27
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• 2009

Objectives : To investigate the improvement rate of muscle weakness caused by lumbar disc herniation, 17 patients was treated with oriental medicine. Methods : To evaluate weakness of big toe extensor muscles caused by lumbar disc herniation, we measured the active range of motion(ROM) of big toe extension and muscle grading of big toe extensor muscles. We also measured numerical rating scale(NRS), oswestry disability index(ODI) and compared them with the active ROM of big toe extension. Results : 1. Progressive weakness of big toe extensor muscles was observed in 2 patients. Weakness of big toe extensor muscles were improved in 13 patients(76%). 2. Changes in manual muscle testing(MMT) scores corresponded with improvement rate of big toe extension. 3. Numerical rating scale(NRS) and oswestry disability index(ODI) improvement rate did not correspond with improvement rate of big toe extension. Conclusions : Muscle weakness caused by lumbar disc herniation can be treated with oriental medicine and progressive muscle weakness must be observed constantly.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes and efficacy of hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head after the failure of porous tantalum rod insertion without rod removal. Materials and Methods: Conversion to hip resurfacing arthroplasty was performed in 10 patients (11 hips) with a mean period of 14.9 months after the primary surgery. The mean follow-up period was 73.7 months. Analysis of pre and postoperative range of motion (ROM), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score, modified Harris hip score, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score was performed. Radiographic analysis of component loosening and osteolysis was performed. Results: The postoperative ROM showed significant improvement (P<0.05), excluding flexion contracture. The modified Harris hip score showed improvement from 65.82 to 96.18, the UCLA score showed improvement from 4.18 to 8.00, and the VAS pain score was reduced from 6.09 to 1.80. All scores showed statistically significant improvement (P<0.05). No component loosening or osteolysis was detected by radiographic analysis. Conclusion: Satisfactory results were obtained from conversion hip resurfacing arthroplasty after failure of porous tantalum rod insertion without rod removal. The findings of this study demonstrate the advantages of HRA, including no risk of trochanteric fracture and no bone loss around the tantalum rod. In addition, the remaining porous tantalum rod provided mechanical support, which reduced the potential risk of femoral neck fracture or loosening. This technique can be regarded as a favorable treatment option.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the effect of spinal decompression with Korean medicine treatment on the herniation of an intervertebral disc (HIVD) in a patient after fusion surgery of a cervical segment. Methods : A single patient was treated with spinal decompression, acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture, and herbal medication. We measured the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), European Quality of Life-5 Dimension (EQ-5D), Cervical Range of Motion (cervical ROM) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score to evaluate the treatment effects. Results : The patient's post neck pain & pain in both arms improved significantly as suggested by the scores on the NRS, NDI, EQ5D, cervical ROM and BDI. Conclusions : Thus, spinal decompression, including Korean medicine treatment, could be taken into consideration for HIVD patients after fusion surgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.451-459
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• 2020

Background For volar soft tissue defects of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, free flaps are technically challenging, but have more esthetic and functional advantages than local or distant flaps. In this study, we compared the long-term surgical outcomes of arterial (hypothenar, thenar, or second toe plantar) and venous free flaps for volar defects of the PIP joint. Methods This was a single-center retrospective review of free flap coverage of volar defects between the distal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joint from July 2010 to August 2019. Patients with severe crush injuries (degloving, tendon or bone defects, or comminuted/intra-articular fractures), thumb injuries, multiple-joint and finger injuries, dorsal soft tissue defects, and defects >6 cm in length were excluded from the study, as were those lost to follow-up within 6 months. Thirteen patients received arterial (hypothenar, thenar, or second toe plantar) free flaps and 12 received venous free flaps. Patients' age, follow-up period, PIP joint active range of motion (ROM), extension lag, grip-strength ratio of the injured to the uninjured hand, and Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder & Hand (QuickDASH) score were compared between the groups. Results Arterial free flaps showed significantly higher PIP joint active ROM (P=0.043) and lower extension lag (P =0.035) than venous free flaps. The differences in flexion, grip strength, and QuickDASH scores were not statistically significant. Conclusions The surgical outcomes of arterial free flaps were superior to those of venous free flaps for volar defects of the PIP joint.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of clinical factors on the outcome of arthrocentesis in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with TMJ internal derangement underwent arthrocentesis using ringer's lactate. The present study evaluated the contribution of the clinical variables of age, time since onset, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain level, and range of motion (ROM) on the outcomes of TMJ arthrocentesis: age (${\leq}25\;years$, >25 and ${\leq}40\;years$, >40 and ${\leq}60\;years$), VAS pain level (${\leq}5$, >5 and ${\leq}7$, >7 and ${\leq}10$), and ROM (<25 and ${\geq}25mm$). Odds ratios (ORs) were used to describe the proportional benefit of each variable the on successful outcome of arthrocentesis. For the OR to be clinically relevant or even clinically noticeable, we assumed that the OR would need to be larger than 2. Results: Mean preoperative pain score was $6.49{\pm}1.560$ and at 6 months postoperative was $0.46{\pm}1.147$ with an average decrease of pain score 6 (P<0.001). The mean preoperactive maximum mouth opening was $26.14{\pm}4.969mm$ and mean maximum mouth opening at 6-month inerval was $38.92{\pm}3.392mm$. The mean increase in the mouth opening was a mean difference of 12.78 mm (P<0.001). Logistic regression showed that the maximum benefit occurred in patients aged <25 years (OR, 12.01; P=0.012), a VAS pain level of >7 (OR, 11.25; P=0.039), and a maximum vertical opening of <25 mm (OR, 7.70; P=0.038). Conclusion: Lavage of the superior joint space with ringer's lactate resulted in significant reduction in pain and improvement in mouth opening. Patients with a greater inflammatory component and younger patients benefitted more from arthrocentesis. Evaluation of these clinical variables helped in predictive modelling, which may provide clinicians with the opportunity to identify "at-benefit" patients early and initiate specific treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2022

This study was to investigate the effectiveness of combined Korean medicine treatment on a patient who was diagnosed on lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) with localized bone marrow edema. The patient was treated with acupuncture, pharmacopucture, cupping and herbal medicine. We evaluated patient's progress using range of motion (ROM), EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D), Oswestry disability index (ODI), numerical rating scale (NRS), patient global impression of change, self-walkable distance. NRS of back pain decreased from 7 to 5, at the same time NRS of lower limb decreased from 4 to 3. EQ-5D score increased from 0.24 to 0.646. ODI score improved 80 to 62. Self-walkable distance and lumbar spine ROM also increased. As a result, clinical improvements were found in a patient. In conclusion, this study shows that Korean medicine treatment can be considered as effective conservative care for LSTV with localized bone marrow edema.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to report the effect of oriental medical treatments on the 4 patients with lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. Methods : The 4 patients were treated by Bee Venom acupuncture, Dong-Qi acupuncture, acupuncture on tender points of the origin of the extensor carpi radialis and taping on the extensor carpi radialis. The state of patients was measured by visual analog scale(VAS), elbow range of motion(ROM) and patient's subjective symptom grade(PSSG). Results : After mean 9.5 times of treatments, the recovery of elbow ROM was measured and significant pain relief was seen as the average of VAS changed from 10 to 1.25 and average of PSSG changed from 2.75 to 0.5 grade. Conclusions : These results suggest that oriental medical treatments including Bee Venom acupuncture, Dong-Qi acupuncture, acupuncture, taping are effective to improve the lateral epicondylitis of the elbow.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.288-305
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• 2023

Background: The compression therapy, which is the standard treatment for lymphedema patients, may be difficult to implement and contraindicated to some patients depending on their health condition. Objects: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether kinesiology taping (KT) can be used effectively and safely in the management of lymphedema as an alternative treatment through systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: In February 2023, the literature was systematically collected through eight search engines with a combination of terms, 'lymphedema' and 'kinesiology taping.' We qualitatively analyzed the differences and safety of KT methods, and quantitatively meta-analyzed the effects of volume reduction in edema, range of motion (ROM), and pain improvement using Review Manager ver. 5. 4. To assess the risk of bias in the randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies, Risk of Bias was used. Results: A total of 616 articles searched and 20 studies were selected, including 12 RCTs and eight case studies. KT intervention could not replace multilayer compression bandage (MLB), but it demonstrated similar or better results compared to compression garment (CG), with reduced pain and improved intervention comfort. Studies reported skin adverse events ranging from 2.5% to 20.68%, with a total adverse event incidence of 7.7%. There was no significant difference in the application method of KT. As a result of the meta-analysis from the 8 RCTs, the KT intervention showed a mean difference (MD) of -7.18 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [-12.64 to -1.72] in the volume change of lymphedema, while the pain difference was MD 0.82 with CI 95% [0.50 to 1.15], in comparison to the MLB and CG intervention. Conclusion: KT therapy led to a reduction in edema size, volume, pain, and improved ROM and quality of life. KT may be a viable option for lymphedema patients who have trouble applying traditional compression therapies.