• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.79-84
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• 2021

The degenerative spinal cord disease cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), and cervical myelopathy caused by trauma, can result in debilitating symptoms affecting quality of life. This study used acupotomy and other Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy) to improve the symptoms of CSM and cervical myelopathy. The visual analog scale, the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA scale), the Nurick grading system, and the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale were used as the evaluation criteria to determine the effectiveness of treatment. The functional status of both patients improved from mild to moderate, with improved gait, local sensation, and level of pain. The degree of spinal cord injury remained the same. The findings of this study suggest that combined Korean medicine treatments including acupotomy may be helpful in the treatment of CSM and cervical myelopathy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.135-141
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• 2024

The use of ultrasound (US)-guided interventions has rapidly increased in Korean medicine (KM) to ensure the safety and accuracy of invasive procedures, such as pharmacopuncture and acupotomy. Although hands-on training is important for the acquisition of skills, it requires considerable time and cost. A detailed guide on the procedure and treatment regions is needed to ensure hygiene and safety during US-guided procedures in KM practice. In this study, we present the overall procedure, target structures, and treatment approaches of US-guided pharmacopuncture and acupotomy for nerve entrapment in the upper extremities of the cubital and radial tunnel, posterior interosseous nerve, carpal tunnel, and Guyon's canal syndrome. We believe that the findings of our study will serve as a foundation for future clinical research, practice, and education on US-guided KM procedures. Further research involving US-guided interventions should specify target structures in three-dimension to delineate the treatment areas.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.176-184
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• 2021

Background: The aim of this study was to report the effect of acupotomy for patients with headache. Methods: Four patients with headache were treated with acupotomy. The improvement of symptoms was evaluated by numeric rating scale(NRS), Headache impact test-6(HIT-6) and headache attack frequency. Results: The numeric rating scale score and headache attack frequency decreased throughout the treatment period. No side effects were observed during treatment. Conclusion: Acupotomy had shown a positive clinical effect in the treatment of a headache in this case series. Further studies are required for its application on various headache.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권3호
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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 Acupuncture Research
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.143-154
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of cervical acupotomy & acupunture on facial&trigemial nerve branch for peripheral facial paralysis and postauricular pain. Methods : We investigated 30 patients with peripheral facial paralysis who had visited at Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine of Korean Medicine Hospital of Dong-Eui University from April 1st, 2013 to April 30th, 2014. Group A was treated by acupuncture and pharmacopuncture on facial&trigemial nerve branch and Cervical acupotomy and group B was treated by acupuncture and pharmacopuncture on routine facial paralysis acupuncture point without acupotomy. Results : The improvement of Yanagihara's score in group A is higher than group B during every period. The improvement of VAS score in group A is higher than group B during every period. Conclusions : These results suggest that cervical acupotomy and acupunture on facial & trigemial nerve branch may be effective for peripheral facial paralysis and postauricular pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.129-137
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• 2012

Objectives : Polyarteritis nodosa is a progressive disease of connective tissue that is characterized by nodules along arteries; nodules may block the artery and result in inadequate circulation to the particular area. This report is intended to estimate the efficacy using oriental complex treatment on a patient with Polyarteritis nodosa. Materials and Methods : From 19th March, 2012 to 12th May, 2012, One male inpatient diagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa was treated with general oriental medicine therapy : needle-embedding therapy ; acupuncture ; pharmacopuncture ; acupotomy therapy and herbal medication. VAS(visual analogue scale) was used for evaluation of both leg pain. Other subjective symptoms including night sweat, tinnitus, upper heat were evaluated by percentage comparing the symtoms before and after treatment. Results : The patient showed a certain degree of improvement in both leg pain and other subjective symtoms. Conclusions : Oriental treatments such as needle-Embedding therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, pharmacopuncture therapy, acupotomy therapy and herbal medication can be effective for controlling pain and other accompanied symtoms due to polyarteritis nodosa.

• 한방비만학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.133-139
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• 2017

도침치료와 냉각치료, 한약치료를 병행한 복합한방치료를 24명을 대상으로 4주간 시행한 결과, 허벅지둘레, 체중, BMI, 체지방률 등 비만지표가 모두 통계적으로 유효하게 감소하였다. 또한 중등도의 부작용 발생률은 1.04%로 나타났다.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제38권3호
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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.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.62-78
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aims to assess the impact of acupotomy on migraine through an examination of clinical studies conducted since 2015. Methods : We conducted a comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (nRCTs) related to acupotomy treatment for migraine, utilizing five Korean online databases (OASIS, Science ON, DBPIA, KISS, RISS), as well as four foreign online databases (CNKI, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library). We identified a total of 10 relevant studies for analysis. Participants characteristics, treatment points, combination treatments, treatment cycles or frequencies, evaluation indices, efficacy, and adverse events were analyzed. The risk of bias in the 10 RCTs was assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0). Results : A total of 931 participants were included in 10 studies. In the intervention group, the average duration of migraine morbidity ranged from 15.5±4.5 months to 15.9±4.2 years. Six studies based their diagnoses on the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), while five studies relied on Chinese diagnostic criteria. All studies specified the treatment area as the region exhibiting tenderness or induration on the head and neck. Treatment cycles ranged from a minimum of 2 days to a maximum of 1 week, with the number of days per treatment course varied from 5 days to 4 weeks. The diameter of acupuncture needles used varied between 0.3 mm and 1 mm. Of the eight studies specifying needle length, the shortest was 20 mm, and the longest was 40 mm. A total of eight evaluation indices were employed, with total efficacy rate (TER) and visual analogue scale (VAS) being the most frequently used. Statistically, all intervention groups showed more significant results compared to the control groups. Adverse events were reported in only two studies within the intervention group. Overall, the risk of bias assessment for the selected RCTs ranged from 'some concerns' to 'high risk of bias.' Conclusions : This study showed that acupotomy treatments for migraine were effective.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.37-41
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• 2020

Objectives: Round Acupuncture having blunt end has developed from acupotomy. This case report is to find out that Round Acupuncture is effective in treating patients with recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which has not improved by steroid injection or acupotomy. Methods: Round Acupuncture was inserted into the distal fibers of transverse carpal ligament and released toward the proximal fibers. Treatment was performed three times in total. T ingling, numbn ess, night pain and swelling sensation were assessed, and provocative maneuvers were also used. Results: After treat ment, all symptoms completely disappeared and the patient had no recurrence until 3 months after treatment. Conclusion: Round Acupuncture co uld be an effective treatment for recurrent CTS.