Journal of Acupuncture Research

Korean Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine Society (대한침구의학회)
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Acupuncture for chronic post-thoracotomy pain in a patient with major chest trauma: A case report

  • Kim, Kun Hyung (School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Cho, Hyun Min (Department of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Trauma Center, Pusan National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2017.02.01
  • Accepted : 2017.02.06
  • Published : 2017.02.20
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Abstract

Objectives : Chronic post-thoracotomy pain is a refractory condition that responds poorly to existing pain treatments. The aim of this report is to describe favorable symptom changes in a patient with chronic post-thoracotomy pain after major chest trauma who received a series of manual acupuncture treatments over 3 months. Methods : Twelve sessions of manual acupuncture were provided to the patient, once or twice a week. Results : The manual acupuncture sessions were well tolerated. Minor adverse events, including temporary minor bleeding at the needled sites, were intermittently observed. The patient's symptoms, including pain, sleep disturbance, and anxiety gradually resolved and had almost completely disappeared after 12 sessions of acupuncture treatment. Conclusion : This single case report cannot confirm whether the observed positive changes in the patient's symptoms and dysfunctions are associated with the acupuncture treatments. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to explore the role of acupuncture in chronic post-thoracotomy pain in patients with major chest trauma.

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References

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