• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.239-246
• /
• 2018

Objective : This case study reports the therapeutic effect of Korean Medicine (KM) treatments including CS(care special pain) and BV(bee venom) pharmacopuncture on herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) of lumbar spine(L-spine). Methods : Two patients diagnosed with HIVD of L-spine were treated with CS and BV pharmacopuncture on GV3 and EX-B2, acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine. The Numeric Rating Scale(NRS), the Oswestry low back pain Disablility Index(ODI) and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ) scores were evaluated before and after treatment for comparison. Results : Low back pain(LBP) and radiating pain was improved with a decrease in patients' NRS, ODI and RMDQ scores. Conclusion : These results suggest that KM treatments including combined CS and BV pharmacopuncture could be an effective treatment on patients with HIVD of L-Spine.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis for herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) of lumbar spine patients with piriformis muscles tenderness. Methods : This research was carried out on the 60 inpatients who received treatment for their HIVD of lumbar spine from January 1 to May 31, 2014 in DaeJeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. We divided them into two groups ; group A(n=30) : common treatment on HIVD of L-spine without Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis(acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herb medication, Chuna and physiotherapy), and group B(n=30) : common treatment on HIVD of L-spine with Dong-qi acupuncture on piriformis. We evaluated the treatment effect of each group on tenderness(checked by Algometer pressure), and with a numeric rating scale(NRS), and oswestry disability index(ODI). The evaluations of tenderness were performed 8 times : admission day, and on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 18th and 21st day after admission. The evaluations of NRS and ODI were performed 3 times : admission day, and on the 12th and 21st day after admission. The statistical significance was evaluated by SPSS 18.0 for Windows. Results : In group B, tenderness was significantly decreased compared with group A. The difference of tenderness from admission day to the 12th day showed significant reduction compared with group A. Conclusions : Dong-qi acupuncture is more effective in reducing piriformis muscle tenderness in the early stages of treatment. We expect that patients who receive Dong-qi acupuncture will be satisfied with Korean medical treatment and trust their doctor.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.105-121
• /
• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the effects between the degree of herniated intervertebral lumbar disc (HIVD) at L4-5 level and improvement of low back pain treated by Korean Medicine therapy. Methods 567 patients who received inpatient treatment from May 2014 to December 2015 in the Daejeon-Jaseng of Korean Medicine Hospital were divided into 6 groups by the degree of HIVD at L4-5 level confirmed with a Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging. All patients received a combination of treatment including acupunture, chuna manual therapy, pharmacopunture, herbal medication. They were compared and analyzed on the basis of improvement between measuring Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ5D Index) as they were hospitalized and as they were discharged. The statistically significance was evaluated by SPSS 23.0 for windows. Results After treatment, Normal stage on Intervertebral Lumbar Disc at L4-5 level group's Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), EuroQol-5 Dimension Index (EQ5D Index) improvement was $1.30{\pm}1.62$, $4.52{\pm}11.82$ and $0.04{\pm}0.11$ respectively. Bulging group's improvement was $3.25{\pm}2.81$, $8.28{\pm}13.02$ and $0.09{\pm}0.17$ respectively. Spinal canal occupying ratio (SOR) less than 20 group's improvement was $2.15{\pm}1.92$, $11.79{\pm}17.81$ and $0.13{\pm}0.23$ respectively. SOR 20 to less than 40 stage group's improvement was $2.13{\pm}1.92$. $10.79{\pm}15.93$ and $0.10{\pm}0.26$ respectively. SOR 40 to less than 60 group's improvement was $2.16{\pm}2.24$, $9.80{\pm}16.62$ and $0.15{\pm}0.25$ respectively. Surgery group's improvement was $2.47{\pm}2.21$, $11.64{\pm}18.53$ and $0.15{\pm}0.27$ respectively (p<0.03). But there was no statistically significance between 6 group's improvement after treatment (p>0.05). Conclusions After inpatient treatment by Korean Medicine therapy, Most patient's pain, disability and Health Related Quality of Life was improved significantly. But there was no statistically correlation between the degree of HIVD at L4-5 level and improvement of low back pain. So We think that future research of higher quality and correct statistics shall be necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1 s.29
• /
• pp.132-140
• /
• 1995

Object : This study is designed to evaluate the correlation between the data of DITI(Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging)examination and the changes of clinical symptom after the therapy of acupuncture in the patients with herniated cervical intervertebral disc. Content : The conservative therapy with acupuncture was performed during $4{\sim}5$ weeks, The acupuncture points of SI3, B62, TE3, G34, LI4, S36, GV26, G21, SII5 were used. In the pre- and post therapy, DITI examinations were performed in patients who had HIVD and were treated by acupuncture simultaneously, and then tried to correlate the results of clinical symptoms with the difference of thermographic findings at pre-acupuncture and post-acupuncture. Setting : The standard routine thermoghaphic examinations were performed with thermography(DITI) in the 15 patients with lumbar disc herniations at pre- and post acupuncture. Patient : Thermographic imaging of 15 cases were analyzed. They has disc herniations in X-ray, CT scan and MRI and they were treated by acupuncture theraphy in our hospital from March, 1994 to January, 1995. Result : 1) The causes were trauma(60%), retention of phlegm and fluid(8.7%) and cold & moisture(33.3%) 2) Levels of herniated cervical disc are C2/3(1 case). C3/4(2 cases), C5/6 & C6/7 (2 cases), C6/7(4 cases), Normal(6 cases). 3) Classifications of thermographic pattern are radiculopathy(80%), spot(13.3%), and nonspecific(6.7%) in order. 4) In evaluation Results of clinical symptom are Excellent(80%), Good(6.7%), and Poor(6.7%). Data of DITI are Excellent(80%), Good(6.7%), Fair(6.7%), and Poor(6.7%). Conclusion ; Acupuncture showed good results over 86.7% in clinical evaluation and 86.7% in DITI. Thermographic examination was valuable in the evaluation of therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find out the relation between the height of intercrestal line, and HIVD(Herniated Intervertebral Disc)of Lumbar spine. Methods : We investigated 445 cases (208 male, 237 female) of patients who were diagnosed as HIVD of L-spine at either L4/5 or L5/S1 level. We analysed the relation between the height of intercrestal line and the level of HIVD. Results : 1. Among 445 cases, the level of intercrestal line with HIVD of L-spine at the specific location was different between male and female. In male, the intercrestal line is more likely to be located at L4 level, while in female more likely to be located at L5 level. 2. Among 445 cases, L5/S1 HIVD patients(272, 61.1%) were more than L4/5 HIVD patients(173, 38.9%). At L4 body area, L4/5 HIVD patients were more than L5/S1 HIVD patients, however, at L4/5 intervertebral area and L5 body area, L5/S1 HIVD patients were more than L4/5 HIVD patients. (p<0.01) 3. When the line is located at higher level, HIVD of L-spine tends to be occurred at L4/5 level. Contrastly, when the line is located at lower level, HIVD of L-spine tends to be occurred at L5/S1 level. (p<0.01) Conclusions : High intercrestal line leads to L4/5 HIVD, while low intercrestal line leads to L5/S1 HIVD. Possibly, it is caused by different length and thickness of the iliolumbar ligament.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.17-32
• /
• 2007

Objectives : The lumbosacral joint is unstable area from an anatomical viewpoint, while it is also a very mobile area in ordinary life, so that clinically major causes of low back pain originate in this joint. The purpose of this study is to assess the difference of the Ferguson's angles, Lumbar gravity lines, Lumbar lordotic angles among Herniated of Intervertebral Disc(HIVD) patients. Methods : We analyzed the lateral view of lumbar spine checked at erect position on 88 patients who had been diagnosed as HIVD by Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI). We investigated the Ferguson's angle, Lumbar gravity line, Lumbar lordotic angle on X-ray film. Results and Conclusions : In the acute lumbago group the Ferguson's angle had a tendency to decrease, while in the chronic group it had a tendency to increase. In the acute lumbago group the Lumbar gravity line fell in front of the normal range(sacrum), while in the chronic group it fell behind the normal range(sacrum). In the acute lumbago group the Lumbar lordotic angle usually decreased, while in the chronic group it increased. The Ferguson's angle and the Lumbar gravity line, the Ferguson's angle and the Lumbar lordotic angle, the Lumbar gravity line and Lumbar lordotic angle each had a positive realtionship. The Ferguson's angle, the Lumbar gravity line and the Lumbar lordotic angle was less influenced by the level of HIVD and was more influenced by how long the patient had the pain. The correlationship between each factor was less in the chronic lumbago group than the acute group. In the chronic lumbago group the instability of the lumbosacral joint increased, while in the acute group the compression of the weight on the sacrum increased.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.157-165
• /
• 2006

In order to analyze clinical characteristics like sex- and age-based onset frequency and onset region from vertebral disease cases, this study investigated total 1,291 cases of vertebral disease that were diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) from January to December 2004 at B University Hospital in metropolitan area. For higher diagnostic accuracy in cases of spinal disorder diagnosed, this study analyzed findings from data reading conducted by veteran specialists in diagnostic radiology. But this study excluded uncertain lesion cases, the cases requiring differential diagnosis from other disorders and so on from subjects under analysis. This study employed superconductive 1.5 Tesla SIGNA MR/i for MRI test and basically received resulting images via FSE(fast spin echo). In particular, this study obtained T1 and T2 myelogram with regard to regional characteristics(such as cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae and lumbar vertebra) and imaging characteristics for sagittal and transverse section. As a result, this study came to the following conclusions : 1. In terms of general characteristics of subjects under analysis, male group comprised 53.5% and female 46.5% out of total 1,291 subjects. 2. The regional onset frequency of spinal disorders was converged primarily on lumbar vertebra(65.5%), which was followed by cervical vertebrae(27.3%) and thoracic vertebrae(7.0%) respectively. 3. Top 10 cases with high onset frequency of spinal disorders can be listed as follows : 1) posterior bulging disc 65.8% 2) narrowing of neural foramen 23.8% 3) herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD) 22.4% 4) spinal stenosis 16.7% 5) osteochondrosis 6.4% 6) compression fracture 6.4% 7) facet joint arthropathy 6.2% 8) spondylolisthesis 6.0% 9) spinal cord tumor 3.5% 10) inter body fusion 2.6%

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.69-73
• /
• 2005

This report describes a case of spinal nerve root compression due to an acute inflammatory granuloma after lumbar surgery. A 39 year-old man with a history of increasing back pain with a 3-week duration was diagnosed with a herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD). The diagnosis of a HIVD was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with indications for surgery. A discectomy and a partial laminectomy was performed and the symptoms were alleviated immediately after surgery for a five-day period. However, a slowly progressing pain was subsequently noted along a different dermatome. There was no pain relief despite the patient being given pharmacological treatments, combined with an epidural steroid injection. The follow up MRI images showed severe compression of the nerve roots by a epidural lesion. Another procedure was performed 17 days after the initial operation. The lesion responsible for the compression of the nerve roots was found to be an acute inflammatory granuloma. The pain was relieved after the second procedure and there were no other symptoms or neurological problems. This case is remarkable in that a granuloma formed relatively quickly and grew to such a size that it was able to severely compress the surrounding nerve roots.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.85-97
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The study on Acupotomy therapy has recently become a popular academic field as proven to be an great alternative to the limitation of Western medical treatment. However, there has been little study examining acupotomy therapy on treating HIVD. Thus, this study aims to investigate the sense of improvement and satisfaction from the HIVD patients treated with acupotomy therapy. Methods : A total of 63 subjects that consists of HIVD patients were participated in this study. The experimental group(33subjects) was treated with acupotomy therapy and acupuncture, and the control group (30subjects) was treated with acupuncture. All the subjects were asked to answer VAS(visual analogue scale) and ODI(Oswestry disability index) before and after the treatment. Results : The results of the VAS and ODI of comparison analysis between two groups, show that the improvement of HIVD in acupotomy and acupuncture treatment group is more effective than that in acupuncture treatment group

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.111-124
• /
• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report clinical effects of oriental medicine w~h conservative treatments including acupuncture, Chuna treatment and herbal medicine on a patient with low back pain and lower limb numbness caused by HIVD and schwannoma. Methods: The patient was diagnosed with HIVD and schwannoma through the MRI scan. This case was treated with acupuncture, Chuna treatment and herbal medicine during the whole admission period. We evaluated the progress of the symptoms with objective criteria such as NRS(Numerical Rating Scale), SLRT(Straight Leg Raising Test), ODI(Oswestry Disability Index) score and MMT(Manual Muscle Testing). Results and Conclusions: After weeks of conducting conservative treatment on patient with low back pain and lower limb numbness caused by HIVD and schwannoma occurred at the lumbar spine, significant improvements of the symptoms were seen. These results suggest that in the case of low back pain and lower limb numbness caused by HIVD and schwannoma, conservative treatments can be considered as one of the options of treating the symptoms beside surgical way.