Safety and Efficacy of Korean Medicine Treatment Including Chuna Manual Therapy for Patients with Spinal, Pelvic, or Hip Fractures: A Retrospective Chart Review

척추, 골반 및 고관절 골절 환자에 대한 추나치료를 포함한 한의치료의 안전성 및 유효성: 후향적 차트 리뷰

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of chuna manual therapy in hospitalized patients with spinal, pelvic, or hip fractures-a population in whom this therapy is often considered a relative contradiction Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of 41 inpatients who received chuna manual therapy for fractures between January 2017 and June 2025. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the treatment site relative to the fracture: 'unrelated to fracture site' group, 'related to fracture site' group, and 'combined' group. We assessed all recorded adverse events (AEs) for safety and analyzed changes in pain scores (numeric rating scale or visual analogue scale) in a subgroup of 27 patients. Results No serious AEs related to chuna manual therapy were reported. The 'unrelated to fracture site' group showed a greater reduction in pain scores compared to the 'related to fracture site' group (p=0.014). Within-group analysis also revealed a significant pain reduction in the 'unrelated to fracture site' group (p=0.002) and in the combined 'related' and 'combined' groups (p=0.035). Conclusions With careful patient selection and the application of low-force techniques, chuna manual therapy appears to be a safe treatment plan for hospitalized fracture patients. While the observed pain reduction likely reflects the effects of a comprehensive treatment approach that included other Korean medicine therapies, no serious adverse events directly related to chuna manual therapy were reported. These findings suggest that chuna manual therapy, when applied appropriately, can be a valuable treatment for managing pain and supporting functional recovery during fracture rehabilitation.