title: Nonoperative Korean Medicine Combination Therapy for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Retrospective Case-Series Study.
abstract: This is a retrospective case series exploring the therapeutic benefits and harm of nonoperative Korean medicine combination therapy for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The medical records of a total of 33 LSS patients, who were treated as inpatients at Mokhuri Neck and Back Hospital, Republic of Korea, from November 2010 to January 2012, were reviewed first and telephone survey on these patients was conducted after one year. Body acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture, Chuna, and oral administration of herbal medicines were offered to all patients. A Visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain and the walking duration without pain were used to assess the patients during the approximately 1-month treatment period. The average VAS score of pain and the walking duration improved significantly; the VAS score decreased from 9 (SD, 1.15) to 2.75 (2.22) (p < 0.01), and the walking duration increased from 5.5 (6.66) to 16.75 (13.00) minutes (p < 0.01). No adverse event was reported during the treatment. In addition, the decreased pain level and improved function continued for over one year. Although we did not find definitive evidence, the study results suggest that KM combination therapy may be beneficial for decreasing pain and improving function in LSS patients and may produce comparatively few adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Center, Mokhuri Neck & Back Hospital, Seoul 135-857, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kiok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Center, Mokhuri Neck & Back Hospital, Seoul 135-857, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yongjae
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Center, Mokhuri Neck & Back Hospital, Seoul 135-857, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yousuk
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Center, Mokhuri Neck & Back Hospital, Seoul 135-857, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongcheol
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Center, Mokhuri Neck & Back Hospital, Seoul 135-857, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-872, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wonseok
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Korean Medicine Clinical Trial Center, Korean Medicine Hospital, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim