• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a clinical study of using acupuncture for chronic pain in patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) in the outpatient setting. Methods: A prospective case-series attempting to recruit 20 participants was performed from February 11, 2016, to December 31, 2016. We provided Manual and electrical acupuncture was provided one 1 to three 3 times a week, for 6 weeks, up to 18 sessions. The primary clinical outcome was the average pain intensity as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included back-specific dysfunction (Oswestry disability index), quality of life (quality of life questionnaire-26), patient-reported improvement, use of other healthcare resources, and adverse events at 6 weeks. Use of healthcare resources and adverse events were additionally followed-up at 12 weeks by telephone. Results: Of 33 patients screened, a total of 7 were enrolled in the study. Manual and electrical acupuncture was provided 1 to 3 times a week, for 6 weeks, up to 18 sessions. We observed reduced pain intensity at 6 weeks in all participants. The change in the quality of life and back-specific dysfunction was inconsistent among participants. Mild, temporary adverse events were observed in three patients. Conclusion: In our clinical setting, it was not feasible to recruit sufficient participants and to assess the efficacy of acupuncture for chronic pain after osteoporotic thoracolumbar VCFs under a year. Strategies to improve recruitment and to identify barriers to participation are required for future clinical trials.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.763-771
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• 2000

Objectives : Thoracolumbar burst fractures(TBLF) result in not only compressive deformity of vertebral body but also spinal cord compression by bony fragments. Many thoracolumbar burst fractures demand both anterior decompression and intervertebral fusion. Most of spinal surgeons use anterior instrumentation for anteior intervertebral bony fusion. The use of Z-plate has been increased recently, however there has been only a few reports regarding its clinical long-term strength. We studied nineteen patients with TBLF to find out the long-term stability of Z-plate. Methods : We have operated 19 patients from March 1996 to August 1998. They were treated with anterior decompression through either a transthoracic, retroperitoneal extrapleural or retroperitoneal approach. Retropulsed bony fragments were removed completely by corpectomy. Iliac bone graft was used for interbody fusion in all of the cases. They were evaluated by plain X-ray films including flexion and extention lateral films. Cobbs angle was used to evaluate kyphotic and lateral wedging deformity. Results : Burst fractured sites were T11 in two, three T12, nine L1, and five L2. Mean follow-up duration was fifteen months. Preoperative average kyphotic angle was 23.7 degree. Immediate postoperative kyphotic angle was 10.2 degree. Follow-up resluts of average kyphotic angles revealed 14 degrees. Four patients(21%), including two spinal 3-column injury, showed increasement of kyphotic angle more than 5 degree or breakage of intrumentation. Two patients showed the difference of kyphotic angle more than 3 degree. Five patients(26%) revealed lateral wedging deformity more than 3 degrees. Postoperative complications were two meralgia parestheticas, one pulmonary atelectasis and two donor site infections. Four of the eight patients, who initially showed incomplete spinal cord deficits, were nerologically improved by Frankel's grade. Conclusion : Z-plate fixation and iliac bone graft after anterior decompression in thoracolumbar burst fractures is a safe and easy method. Immediate postoperative results revealed excellent correction of posttraumatic kyphosis, but long-term follow-up evalution showed insufficient strength. Therefore we believe that use of Z-plate should be carefully decided, especially in the case of large lumbar fracture or 3-column injury.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 1998

Osteoporosis is defined as a pathologic condition in which there occurs no change in the chemical composition of the bone, while bone resorption is abnormally increased. This compares with osteogenesis, which leads to a decrease in the amount of bone. Though many varieties of therapies have been tried, no fully effective method has been found. Korean red ginseng is an important variety of Korean ginsengs and many studies have been performed to investigate its effectiveness. But there has been no report on red ginseng's effects on osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effects of Korean red ginseng on postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. The study was designed as a double-blind study. Group I consisted of 30 postmenopausal osteoporosis patients who were administered red ginseng extracts and 15 patients who were administered maltose capsules, were included in group II. The following results were obtained after one-year administration to both groups. 1. There were no significant differences in the degree of wedging, number of compression fractures in the vertebral body, trabeculations, and Cobb's angles between the experimental and control groups. 2. Even though bone mineral density increased in the lumbar spine, and decreased in the femur, there was no significant statistical difference. 3. The serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphates showed no difference between the two groups regardless of treatment. 4. Urine Deoxy-pyridinoline (DPYD) decreased in the red ginseng group while it increased in the maltose group, but statistically there was no significant difference between the two groups. 5. The clinical presentations showed no significant differences using Visual Analog Scale. 6. The specific complications related with the long-term use of red ginseng did not occur in all patients. In conclusion, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical presentations, biochemical, and radiological studies between the red gins eng and maltose groups. No definite effectiveness of red ginseng on patients with osteoporosis was found.