• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.46-51
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of acupotomy in patients with degenerative lumbar spine stenosis. Methods: A total of 437 patients who had been diagnosed as having lumbar spine stenosis and who had been admitted to Daejeon Oriental hospital from June 1, 2008, to September 31, 2012, were included in this study. The patients underwent acupotomy once, twice or three times on the lumbar spine, according to their symptoms. Then, the patients were asked to complete the verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) and the oswestry disability index (ODI) before and after acupotomy and underwent a global assessment. The resulting data were analyzed. Results: The gender ratio of the participants was 1:1.54, and the mean age was $65{\pm}10.0$ yr. The number of patients over the age of 65 yr was less than that of the patients under the age of 65 yr in the ratio of 1:1.3. The average disease period was $30.17{\pm}56.63$ months. The verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) significantly decreased from 10 to an average of $7.10{\pm}2.50$ after one acupotomy, $6.30{\pm}2.60$ after two acupotomies, and $5.50{\pm}2.50$ after three acupotomies. The ODI was significantly decrease from $20.60{\pm}8.70$ to $17.80{\pm}8.60$ after once acupotomy, $17.10{\pm}8.50$ after two acupotomies, and $16.70{\pm}8.60$ after three acupotomies. High scores were also observed on the global assessment. Conclusion: These results provide evidence that acupotomy is effective to relieve pain and to improve quality of life in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.25-40
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• 2021

Objectives This study was conducted to analyze the effect of using acupotomy for piriformis muscle syndrome. Methods The databases used for the search were PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), KMbase, and National Digital Science Library (NDSL). The literature was searched using a total of 9 domestic and foreign databases. randomized controlled trial using only acupotomy as an intervention was selected. The selected studies are analyzed the risk of bias through Cochrane risk of bias, and meta-analysis was performed using Revman. Results As a result of meta-analysis of 11 selected studies, acupotomy was more effective than nerve block and acupuncture. In terms of visual analog scale and immediate analgesic effect, acupotomy did not have statistically significant results compared to other treatment methods. meta-analysis of electro-acupuncture and acupotomy showed no significant results. Conclusions When acupotomy is applied as a treatment for piriformis muscle syndrome, it is more effective than nerve block and acupuncture. but most of the studies have been judged as 'unclear' in the risk of bias assessment. Due to characteristics of treatment group and control group's intervention, It is judged that the blinding of the participant was not properly implemented. Therefore, it is considered that high-quality studies are necessary to supplement the problems in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.265-275
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• 2021

This review investigated the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy treatment for scoliosis. There were 7 online databases used in the search from inception to March 17, 2021, for randomized controlled trials of the use of acupotomy in patients with scoliosis. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies included (n = 12). A quantitative synthesis of the randomized controlled trials was performed using RevMan Version 5.3. The effect sizes of studies were presented as mean differences for continuous outcomes and risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes, with a 95% confidence interval. As part of combined therapy, acupotomy was reported to significantly improve Cobb's angle compared with other treatments. Likewise, the Visual Analog Scale score, the Oswestry Disability Index score, and pulmonary function were also reported to be improved following acupotomy combination therapy. Although 5 studies mentioned the criteria for reporting adverse events, only 1 study reported adverse events. In conclusion, acupotomy may be an effective treatment for scoliosis. However, the small number, and heterogeneity of the included studies, as well as the poor methodological quality, indicate that higher-quality studies should be conducted to verify the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy treatment for scoliosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.96-109
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy for the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. There were 9 databases searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials until August 3, 2019 regarding acupotomy versus conventional Western medicine, conventional Western medicine treatment with and without acupotomy, and Korean medicine treatment with and without acupotomy, and meta-analysis was performed. Of 303 potentially relevant studies retrieved, 43 were systematically reviewed. All studies were conducted in China. Effective rate, visual analogue scale, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index were used as the evaluation scales. The Ashi point was selected most frequently. In all studies, the intervention group was more effective than the control group. Meta-analysis revealed that acupotomy showed statistically significant beneficial results. Although acupotomy had a beneficial effect on knee osteoarthritis, the risk of bias of the included studies was not low. The majority of the results from the evaluation scales used were highly heterogeneous (> 50%) which reduced confidence in the estimation of effect, or had a small sample size. Further clinical research and development is required in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.144-153
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of acupotomy in the treatment of various facial atrophic scars except acne scars. Methods: Four patients with facial atrophic scars were treated by superficial dermal undermining with acupotomy. They were treated six times, and evaluated by comparing before and after photos, PGA(Physician's Global assessment), SESES(The Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Score) and patient satisfaction. Results and Conclusions: After observing case photos, PGA, SBSES, patient's satisfaction, it can be considered that acupotomy is an effective treatment modality for facial atrophic scars and it has no significant side effects.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to report clinical progresses on localized fat. We devised the method of treat localized fat using acupotomy with selective cryolysis. We selected 4 subjects among the patients who maintained their body weight (within 5%) to minimize effects of losing weight. We practiced acupotomy with selective cryolysis therapy on 4 lesion of abdominal fat, 2 lesion of upper arm fat, 5 times for 2 month. All subjects had loss of abdominal circumference, and 1 subject had significantly loss of upper arm circumference. And there was no adverse effects. It shows that method of using acupotomy with selective cryolysis may be effective on localized fat.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.167-176
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the improvement of acupotomy in patients with partial tear of supraspinatus tendon. Methods : We treated 4 patients having shoulder pain due to partial tear of supraspinatus tendon with acupotomy combined with oriental medical treatments. We checked visual analog scale(VAS) and range of movement(ROM). Results : There are remarkable improvement in VAS and ROM. Conclusions : This report shows acupotomy has a effectiveness on partial tear of supraspinatus tendon. Follow-up study is needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.117-125
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• 2008

Objectives : Analyze according to types of event causing the adverse outcome due to acupotomy, and discuss problems and safety reqirements to using this therapy in Korea. Methods : Based upon the indication, contraindication, treatment procedures, clinical obsevations, acupotomy-related adverse outcome case reports, the factors of damaging event were classified. Results : The main factors of adverse outcome by acupotomy were anatomical ignorance, contamination of device or hospital staff, failure to notice preexisting disease(cardiovascular disease, hypertension, renal failure, hemophilia, chronic Liver Disease, etc.), unskilled treatment procedures(massive bleeding) and techniques(nerve injury, hepatic and splenic injury, Pneumothorax). Conclusions : It is mandatory to prepare adequate sterilie aseptic technique. The clinician should ensure understand genernal health state of patient and anatomical direction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2023

This study aimed to demonstrate a safe and effective procedure targeting the A1 pulley with ultrasound-guided acupotomy in patients with a trigger finger. Six ultrasound-guided acupotomy procedures were performed on 1 patient. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score, Quinnell's classification of triggering, Tanaka score, and A1 pulley thickness were measured using ultrasonography before and after treatment. This study revealed reduced NRS score, Quinnell's classification of triggering, Tanaka score, and thickness of the A1 pulley, with no side effects during the procedure. This indicates ultrasound-guided acupotomy as an effective and safe treatment method for patients with a trigger finger. Further studies are required to evaluate the beneficial effects of this treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the three cases of pulsatile tinnitus without any cause improved by acupotomy and acupuncture. Methods: Three patients diagnosed with pulsatile tinnitus with no abnormalities detected on examination were treated with acupotomy and acupuncture. The improvement of symptoms was evaluated by visual analogue scale(VAS). Results: The visual analogue scale has decreased from 7 to 0, from 5 to 1, and from 6 to 0, respectively. Conclusions: Acupotomy had shown a positive clinical effect in the treatment of the pulsatile tinnitus without any cause in this case reports.