Clinical Effect of Acupotomy Combined with Korean Medicine: A Case Series of a Herniated Intervertebral Disc.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of acupotomy for treating patients with a herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD). This case series includes five HIVD patients who were treated at the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Daejeon University Dunsan Korean Hospital, Daejeon, Korea, from January 2015 to April 2015. Acupotomy was performed three times over a 2-week period, along with Korean medical treatment. The outcomes were evaluated by using a numeric rating scale (NRS), physical examination, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index (ODI), the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36), and the Surgical Safety Checklist. The NRS and physical examination results, as well as the ODI scores, were improved in all cases. No significant differences were noted on the SF-36. No patients had any adverse effects. This study, with its findings of encouraging responses in reducing low back pain and radiating pain and in recovering the kinetic state of soft tissue, supports the potential use of acupotomy for the treatment of patients suffering from HIVD.

Kim HJ ，Jeon JH ，Kim YI 《-》

Effects of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture in sciatic pain patients with lumbar disc herniation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Lee J ，Shin JS ，Lee YJ ，Kim MR ，Ahn YJ ，Park KB ，Kropf MA ，Shin BC ，Lee MS ，Ha IH ... -  《Trials》

Clinical research on the efficacy and safety of thread-embedding acupuncture for treatment of herniated intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine: a protocol for a multicenter, randomized, patient-assessor blinded, controlled, parallel, clinical trial.

Goo B ，Ryoo DW ，Kim EJ ，Nam D ，Lee HJ ，Kim JS ，Park YC ，Baek YH ，Seo BK ... -  《Trials》

Effectiveness and safety of motion style acupuncture treatment of the pelvic joint for herniated lumbar disc with radiating pain: A prospective, observational pilot study.

Conservative treatment is effective for treating and managing herniated lumbar disc with radiating leg pain. To investigate the effects of motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) on the pelvic joint for this condition. This prospective observational study was a pilot study for a future randomized, controlled trial (RCT). [masked for review]. We enroled 40 patients and allocated them to two groups (both n = 20). Groups 1 and 2 received integrative Korean medicine treatment (KMT) and integrative KMT with MSAT for pelvic joint, respectively. Primary outcome was the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score for low back pain. Secondary outcomes were the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual analogue Scale (VAS), and EuroQol 5-Dimension-5-level (EQ-5D-5 L) scores. Efficacy was assessed by comparing the baseline and Day 4 results. Safety was assessed based on the frequency and severity of all adverse events. On Day 14, except for ODI in Group 1, the NRS, VAS, and EQ-5D-5 L scores showed significant improvements in both groups. On Day 90, both groups showed significant improvements in the NRS, ODI, and EQ-5D-5 L scores. There was a significant between-group difference in the NRS score on Day 7. On Day 14, Group 2 had a significantly lower VAS score for radiating leg pain than Group 1. Twelve patients reported adverse events associated with integrative KMT; however, there was no association with pelvic joint MSAT. Adding MSAT for pelvic joint to conventional integrative KMT may ameliorate radiating leg pain and improve the quality of life.

Noh JH ，Byun DY ，Han SH ，Kim J ，Roh JA ，Kim MY ，Kim SN ，Kim ES ，Park KS ，Lee J ，Ha IH ... -  《-》

Clinical effectiveness of percutaneous adhesiolysis using Navicath for the management of chronic pain due to lumbosacral disc herniation.

Lee JH ，Lee SH 《-》