The Effectiveness of Korean Medical Rehabilitation Treatment after Musculoskeletal Surgery: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative Korean rehabilitation treatment for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Methods The medical records of patients undergoing Korean medical rehabilitation after a musculoskeletal surgery, from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019, were analyzed retrospectively. The effect of treatment was evaluated by using a numeric rating scale (NRS) and questionnaire for each surgical site. When the same patient was re-admitted after discharge, it was treated as the same case if it was within 7 days from the discharge date; otherwise, it was treated separately. If the period of hospitalization was within 7 days or the chief complaint was not related to musculoskeletal surgeries, the case was excluded. Results In total, 480 cases were included in this study. Acupuncture (99.8%), moxibustion (95.6%), cupping (97.5%), Chuna manual therapy (81.5%), Korean medical physiotherapy (61.0%), Daoyin exercise therapy (26.3%), and herbal medicine (87.7%) were used as the Korean medical rehabilitation treatments. A significant improvement was noted when comparing the NRS and questionnaire results for each surgical site at the time of admission and discharge. Conclusions Korean medical rehabilitation can be effectively used for patients who have undergone musculoskeletal surgeries, to relieve pain and enable returning to daily activities. However, further research with a high level of evidence is necessary to support this finding.