Effect of integrative Korean medicine treatment for lumbar disc herniation inpatients

摘要

Purpose: Many lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patientsrequire hospitalization due to severe pain and disability,and clinical guidelines recommend sufficient conservativetreatment before considering surgery. As integrative Koreanmedicine treatment including herbal medicine, Chuna manipulation,bee venom acupuncture, and acupuncture is widelyused for LDH in Korea, we investigated the short-term effectsof an integrative Korean medicine treatment in inpatients hospitalizedfor LDH.Methods: We selected 1,377 inpatients admitted to aKorean medicine hospital for LDH (disc prolapse ～ extrusion)confirmed by MRI since June 2012. Demographic characteristics,numeric rating scale (NRS) for low back and legpain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and patient satisfactionrates were assessed upon admission and discharge. Patientsreceived herbal medicine 3 times/day, bee venom acupuncture,acupuncture, and Korean medicine physical therapy 1-2times/day and, Chuna spinal manipulation 2-3 times/wk.Results: The study population was an average 44.2±14.4years, and comprised of 651 men (47%) and 726 women (53%).The onset of low back or leg pain was 277.9±738.2 days, with32% acute (<4 wks), 24% sub-acute (4-12 wks), and 45% chronicpatients (≥12 wks). Average hospital stay was 23.1±12.7 days,and BMI was 23.5±3.5 kg/m2. Level of disc herniation as classifiedby MRI showed 35% had protrusion, 26% extrusion, and22% protrusion with extrusion. The NRS of low back and legpain, and ODI was 6.1±2.3, 5.2±3.2, and 48.3±20.4 at baseline,and 2.9±1.9, 2.6±2.1, and 30.1±16.2 at discharge, respectively,all indicating statistically significant decrease from baseline(P<0.0001). The results for patient satisfaction at dischargewas very satisfied in 34%, satisfied 51%, fairly satisfied 12%,unsatisfied 2% and very unsatisfied 0%, showing that mostrecipients (86%) were satisfied with treatment.Conclusion: LDH patients reported high levels of satisfactionand improvement through non-invasive integrativeinpatient treatment for lowback and leg pain in the short term.