Disc Resorption in Lumbar and Cervical Disc Herniation Patients Receiving Integrative Korean Medicine Treatment

Evaluation of Disc Resorption in Lumbar and Cervical Intervertebral Disc Herniation Patients Receiving Integrative Korean Medicine Treatment

Measurement of herniated disc resorption and assessment of satisfaction regarding post-treatment state and integrative Korean medicine treatment through phone interview in 500 patients with MRI follow-up results receiving treatment for lumbar and cervical disc herniation at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine.

Intervertebral disc herniation treatment can be largely divided into conservative and surgical approaches, and the greater majority of patients show relief of symptoms and resorption of herniated disc through non-surgical, conservative management. Despite concerns that early surgical interventions in intervertebral disc herniation without allowing for sufficient conservative treatment may indicate overtreatment, awareness and understanding in the general public is found somewhat lacking.

The objective of this study is to measure herniated disc resorption and assess satisfaction regarding post-treatment state and integrative Korean medicine treatment through phone interview in 500 patients with MRI follow-up results before and after receiving conservative treatment for lumbar and cervical disc herniation at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Lumbar and/or cervical disc herniation patients with baseline MRI and follow-up results after receiving treatment at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine visiting between February 2012 and December 2015.
• Participants giving informed written consent to use of medical records for academic means.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants refusing to participate in study or to respond to phone interview.