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(College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University)
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(Department of Diagnostics, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University)
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(Sandol Korean Medicine clinic)
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(Department of Diagnostics, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University)
This case demonstrates the diagnostic process and management of thoracic spine-originated dyspnea and chest tightness caused by thoracic breathing, treated with acupotomy. A female patient in her early 40s presented with dyspnea (dyspnea scale 4) and left-sided chest tightness (NRS 8). Pulmonary function tests and echocardiography conducted at a tertiary hospital were reported as normal, ruling out cardiac and pulmonary causes. The patient was identified as a thoracic breather, and tenderness was found in the Huatuojiaji (EX-B2) points of the thoracic spine, leading to a diagnosis of thoracic spine-originated dyspnea caused by thoracic breathing. Acupotomy utilizing a newly developed adhesiolysis technique normalized breathing (dyspnea scale 0) and reduced chest tightness (NRS 1). Breathing therapy was added to prevent recurrence. A 4-week follow-up showed no recurrence or adverse effects. This case highlights the importance of considering musculoskeletal factors in the evaluation of dyspnea and demonstrates acupotomy's potential as an effective, safe intervention.
This work was supported by a National research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korea government (No. RS-2022-NR072366). This research was also supported by the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. RS-2023-00261934).