• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.184-191
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• 2019

Objectives: Recently several Korean medical doctors have begun practicing applied kinesiology (AK). Although the efficacy of combining traditional acupuncture (TA) and pharmacopuncture (PP) on lumbar diseases such as lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbar herniation of intervertebral disk (LHID) has been examined, the possible benefits of combining TA, PP and AK approaches have not been examined. Therefore the aim of this study was to develop effective treatment for lumbar disorders by combining TA, PP, and AK treatments. Methods: Twenty-four patients hospitalized at Samse Korean Traditional Medicine Hospital between March and September 2018 with L5 or S1 root radiculopathy associated with LSS and LHID were included in this study. They were treated for 10 days with TA, PP and AK approaches that included category block, manipulation and strain/counterstrain treatments. The primary outcomes were mainly assessed using Japanese Orthopedic Association lumbar scores (JOALS). JOALS were determined before the start of treatment as well as five and 10 days after treatment started. Results: The treatments improved the lumbar condition of the patients based on JOA pain score. Conclusion: The combined TA, PP and AK treatments were effective in treating spinal diseases of resident patients. Prospective, controlled, and relevant protocols using multimodal strategies to define the role of TA, PP and AK are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2020

Background: Several Korean medical doctors have been practicing applied kinesiology (AK), invented in 1964 by Dr. George J Goodheart, USA. Although the efficacy of traditional acupuncture (TA) and pharmacopucture treatment for lumbar conditions/diseases has been examined, the possible benefits of combining TA and AK have not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to report the effects of combining TA and AK treatment for lumbar disorders using the Japanese Orthopedic Association lumbar score (JOALS) assessment. Methods: There were 21 outpatients treated at Samse Korean Traditional Hospital between March 2018 and September 2018, who presented with L4/L5 or L5/S1 root radiculopathy associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbar herniation of intervertebral disk (LHID). They were treated 10×(2 sessions per week, for 5 weeks) with TA and AK approaches that included a category block, manipulation or strain/counterstrain treatments. The primary outcome was mainly assessed using the JOALS score which was used before (0 ×), during (5 ×), and after treatment (10 ×). Results: There were 19 patients diagnosed with LSS and 2 were diagnosed with LHID. Using the JOALS assessment, TA and AK combined approaches improved the lumbar conditions of all 21 patients after 5 × treatmentsand continued to improve after 10 × treatments (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Combined TA and AK treatment was effective in treating spinal conditions/diseases. Prospective, relevant, well-controlled protocols for TA and AK therapies for various conditions are needed.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders and lumbar diseases in adults when the prevalence rate of osteoarthritis is increasing and to help develop health policies that can improve oral health and health in general. The study used representative data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey phase 3 (2012). In total, we analyzed the data of 3,017 individuals aged over 50 years who participated in the health-related survey and underwent radiography of the lumbar joints. PASW statistics ver. 18.0 was used for analysis. This study revealed the following results: 16.1% experienced at least one symptom of temporomandibular joint disorders within the recent single year, 20.6% experienced lower back pain in the recent three months, and 30.6% had lumbar osteoarthritis revealed using radiography of the lumbar joints. Symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders, lower back pain, and lumbar osteoarthritis were correlated with each other; the respondents who experienced symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders had 1.70 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30~2.22) higher prevalence of lower back pain and 1.20 times (95% CI, 0.86~1.68) higher prevalence of lumbar osteoarthritis than in those with no such difficulties. The results of this study confirmed that the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders affected lumbar diseases in adulthood. Therefore, adequate treatment and prevention of the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders in adults is expected to make crucial contributions to decreases in the prevalence rate of lumbar diseases and an improvement in the quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.350-358
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• 2012

Objective : Life expectancy for humans has increased dramatically and with this there has been a considerable increase in the number of patients suffering from lumbar spine disease. Symptomatic lumbar spinal disease should be treated, even in the elderly, and surgical procedures such as fusion surgery are needed for moderate to severe lumbar spinal disease. However, various perioperative complications are associated with fusion surgery. The aim of this study was to examine perioperative complications and assess risk factors associated with lumbar spinal fusion, focusing on geriatric patients at least 70 years of age in the Republic of Korea. Methods : We retrospectively investigated 489 patients with various lumbar spinal diseases who underwent lumbar spinal fusion surgery between 2003 and 2007 at our institution. Three fusion procedures and the number of fused segments were analyzed in this study. Chronic diseases were also evaluated. Risk factors for complications and their association with age were analyzed. Results : In this study, 74 patients experienced complications (15%). The rate of perioperative complications was significantly higher in patients 70 years of age or older than in other age groups (univariate analysis, p=0.001; multivariate analysis, p=0.004). However, perioperative complications were not significantly associated with the other factors tested (sex, comorbidities, operation procedures, fusion segments involved). Conclusion : Increasing age was an important risk factor for perioperative complications in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery whereas other factors were not significant. We recommend good clinical judgment and careful selection of geriatric patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.875-875
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• 2022

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.3 s.248
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• pp.229-232
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• 2005

Lumbar Sympathectomy is a surgery for plantar hyperhidrosis, vascular and other reflex sympathetic diseases and has a various indications and physiologic effects. However it is not performed actively compared to thoracic sympathectomy because of its invasiveness. Therefore, we tried to perform lumbar sympathectomy using mediastinoscopy with small incision and introduce this new surgical technique. Material and Method: From July 2003 to December 2004, 18 patients undewent lumbar sympathectomy with mediastinoscopy at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital. There were 12 males and 6 females whose mean age was 24.3$\pm$8.2 years ranging from 18 to 67 30 cases of lumbar sympathectomy was performed with mediastinoscopy of which 24 cases were for plantar hyperhidrosis and 6 cases for other diseases. Result: Mean operation time was 37.2$\pm$12.5 minutes and mean post operation hospital stay was 3.1$\pm$2.2 days. There was one post sympathetic neuralgia and one peritoneal opening. Conclusion: Lumbar sympathectomy using mediastinoscopy is a simple and effective technique and has the advantage of cosmetics, post operative pain and hospital stay. However, further studies with large number of cases should be carried out for better outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2015

Objective : Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a relatively rare disease. Because of ambiguous clinical symptom, it is difficult for early diagnosis of OLF and subsequent treatment can be delayed or missed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess the prevalence and distribution of thoracic OLF by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and coexisting spinal disease in Korean patients with back pain or leg pain. Methods : The sample included 2134 Korean patients who underwent MRI evaluation for back pain. The prevalence and distribution of thoracic OLF were assessed using lumbar MRI with whole spine sagittal images. Additionally, we examined the presence of coexisting lumbar and cervical diseases. The presence of thoracic OLF as well as clinical parameters such as age, sex, and surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The prevalence of thoracic OLF in total patients was 16.9% (360/2134). The prevalence tended to increase with aging and was higher in women than in men. The lower thoracic segment of T10-11 was the most frequently affected segment. Of the 360 patients with OLF, 31.9% had coexisting herniated thoracic discs at the same level. Approximately 74% of the patients with OLF had coexisting lumbar and cervical disease. Nine (2.5%) of 360 OLF patients underwent surgery for thoracic lesion. Conclusion : The prevalenceof thoracic OLF was relatively higher than those of previous reports. And coexisting lumbar and cervical disease were very frequent. Therefore, we should check coexisting spinal diseases and the exact diagnostic localization of ossification besides lumbar disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.139-148
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• 2000

Objectives : Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue(華佗夾脊穴) is the Jing-Wai-Qi-Xue(經外奇穴) that is widely used in clinic and effective in Acupuncture and Moxibustion. But the location, number, acupuncture method, clinical application of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue have not been explained clearly and consistently; moreover, studies or clinical reports about this are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to investigate the location, number, acupuncture method, clinical apptication of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue. Methods : We investigated Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue through survey of 11 books and 26 relevant journals published in China Results : 1. Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is located in about 0.5 Cun(寸) at both sides of spinous process of each vertebra. 2. There is differ as the number of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is 34, 48, 56, 58 in each documents. Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue located in first, second cervical vertebra and first sacrum is low in application frequency, Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue located from third cervical vertebra to fourth lumbar vertebra is high in apptication frequency. Therefore, all of the acupoints located in about 0.5 Cun(寸) both sides of spinous process of cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral vertebrae are regarded as Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue in wide meaning. 3. There are Kou-Ci-Fa(叩刺法), Qian-Ci-Fa(淺刺法), Yan-Pi-Ci-Fa(沿皮刺法), Shen-Ci-Fa(深刺法) in acupuncture method of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue. Acupuncturing depths, directions is differ in each location(cervical, thoracic, lumbar vertebra, sacrum) and have something to do with therapeutic effect of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue. The feeling that patient receive after acupuncture is the key to the treatment of disease. 4. The clinical application of each Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is mainly selected by distribution of meridians, nerve roots, vertebral segments which are attacked with a disease. The musculoskeletal diseases in treatment of disease by Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue are the most common as 12 cases. Second, there are many reports about nervous system diseases. In addition, good therapeutic results by application of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue are reported in some diseases, for instance, diseases of five viscera and six entrails, organ, tissue Conclusions : Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is located in about 0.5 Cun(寸) at both sides of spinous process of each cervical, thoracic lumbar and sacral vertebra. Therapeutic effect of Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue has something to do with acupuncturing depths, directions and feelings. Hua-Tuo-Jia-Ji-Xue is mainly selected by distribution of meridians, nerve roots, vertebral segments which are attacked with a disease and is mainly applied musculoskeletal diseases, nervous system diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.147-150
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• 2010

Background: Chronic low back pain can be a manifestation of lumbar degenerative disease, herniation of intervertebral discs, arthritis, or lumbar stenosis. When nerve roots are compromised, low back pain, with or without lower extremity involvement, may occur. Local inflammatory processes play an important role in patients with acute lumbosciatic pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements in patients with chronic low back pain or radiculopathy. Methods: ESR and hsCRP were measured in 273 blood samples from male and female subjects with low back pain and/or radiculopathy due to herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and other diseases. The hsCRP and ESR were measured prior to lumbar epidural steroid injection. Results: The mean ESR was 18.8 mm/h and mean hsCRP was 1.1 mg/L. ESR had a correlation with age. Conclusions: A significant systemic inflammatory reaction did not appear to arise in patients with chronic low back pain.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.203-213
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was carried out to evaluate correlation between Bone Mineral Density(BMD) and degenerative lumbar disease in postmenopausal low back pain patients. Methods : 69 postmenopausal patients with low back pain were examined. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease and bone mineral density of lumbar spine was measured by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data were analyzed by Pearson's Linear Correlation Coefficient. Results : In postmenopausal patients with low back pain, BMD(T-score, Z-score) had negative correlation with the grade of intervertebral disc herniation and positive correlation with weight. Other lumbar diseases including Spinal stenosis, Spondylolisthesis and Facet joint arthrosis didn't have significant correlation with BMD. Conclusion : In postmenopausal patients with low back pain, BMD(T-score, Z-score) had inverse relationship with the grade of intervertebral disc herniation.