Abstract
Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the clinical results of the thoracolumbar fracture patients treated with oriental medical methods. Methods : We reviewed 40 patients of thoracolumbar fracture, who were hospitalized at WonKwang University KwangJu Oriental Medical Hospital and treated by oriental medical methods. We classified thoracolumbar fracture according to three column theory and then analyzed the cause of injury, sex-age distribution, treatment, and etc.. Results : 1. The distribution showed female predominance(72.5%) in sex and 70age-bracket predominance in age. 2. In the distribution of causes, the largest group was "lifting heavy objects"(40%) and the next was "slip down"(37.5%). 3. In the duration of symptoms, the largest group was the group of "acutest" (40%). 4. The distribution of injured level was L1 body the most(20%). 5. In classification of fracture, "compression fracture" was the most(57.5%) and the next was "burst fracture", "unstable fracture" in order. 7. Therapeutic effects above "fair" were 37 cases(92.5%). 8. The higher grade of clinical symptoms is, the lower therapeutic effect is. 9. In the distribution of treatment results according to classification of fracture, both the compression fracture and the burst fracture were almost same high and the unstable fracture is relatively lower than them. Conclusions : The result to treating thoracolumbar fracture by oriental medical methods is satisfactory.