Jaseng Hospital Confirms Efficacy of Korean Medicine Treatment for Cervical Disc Surgery Patients

Neck Pain Score Improved from 5.61 to 3.52 After Treatment

A new study has found that integrative Korean medicine treatment is effective in improving postoperative pain, functional disability, and quality of life for patients who have undergone cervical (neck) disc surgery.

Bong Seyoung, Oriental Medicine Doctor at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine Spine and Joint Research Institute. Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine

The Spine and Joint Research Institute at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine announced on January 12 that it had published the results of a study analyzing the efficacy of integrative Korean medicine treatment for patients hospitalized at Korean medicine hospitals after cervical surgery in the SCI(E)-level international journal, the Journal of Pain Research (IF=2.5).

Cervical disc disease occurs when the disc between the cervical vertebrae herniates or ruptures, compressing nerves and causing pain. When the disc presses on nerve roots or the spinal cord, patients may experience numbness or paralysis in the upper limbs, including the shoulders, arms, and fingers, as well as symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus.

According to the National Health Insurance Service's "2023 Health Insurance Statistical Yearbook," 971,773 patients in Korea visited hospitals in a single year due to cervical intervertebral disc disorders. Among them, many patients with cervical disc disease receive conservative treatments such as Korean medicine therapy, with integrative treatments including Chuna manual therapy, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture being commonly administered in Korean medicine.

The research team led by Bong Seyoung, Oriental Medicine Doctor at the Spine and Joint Research Institute of Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, analyzed the effects of integrative Korean medicine treatment on pain reduction and functional improvement in patients experiencing pain after cervical disc surgery. The team reviewed medical records of a total of 142 patients who had a history of cervical disc surgery and were hospitalized for neck pain at four Korean medicine hospitals (Gangnam, Bucheon, Daejeon, and Haeundae Jaseng Hospitals) between 2015 and 2022.

During their hospital stay, patients received integrative Korean medicine treatment, which included acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and Chuna manual therapy. Acupuncture was performed twice daily, and pharmacopuncture utilized herbal medicines such as Shinbaro pharmacopuncture, Hwangryeonhaedok-tang, and Dangguisausan. The average length of hospitalization was 17.10 ± 13.16 days.

The results showed significant improvement in both neck pain and radiating pain in the upper limbs after treatment. Specifically, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; 0-10) for neck pain improved from 5.61 at admission to 3.52 at discharge, a decrease of 2.09 points. The NRS for radiating pain in the upper limbs also decreased by 2.11 points, from 5.76 at admission to 3.65 at discharge.

Additionally, the Neck Disability Index (NDI; 0-50) showed a significant improvement from 40.61 at admission to 31.30 at discharge. The EQ-5D-5L index, which measures quality of life, also improved from 0.68 to 0.75. No serious adverse effects were observed following integrative Korean medicine treatment.

Bong Seyoung, Oriental Medicine Doctor at the Spine and Joint Research Institute of Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, stated, "Through this study, we confirmed that integrative Korean medicine treatment is an effective and safe therapy for patients after cervical disc surgery. We hope that this research will be used to re-evaluate the role of integrative Korean medicine treatment in terms of the appropriateness of cervical disc surgery in the future."