Integrative Korean medicine treatment for low back pain with radiculopathy caused by Bertolotti syndrome: A CARE-compliant article and retrospective review of medical records

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2024-09, Vol.103 (37), p.e39720
• Main Authors: Cho, Sohyun, Ahn, Yong-Jun, Lee, Yoon Jae, Ha, In-Hyuk, Lee, Ye-Seul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Clinical Case Report; Humans; Integrative Medicine - methods; Low Back Pain - etiology; Low Back Pain - therapy; Male; Medicine, Korean Traditional; Radiculopathy - etiology; Radiculopathy - therapy; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1536-5964; 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000039720

Bertolotti syndrome (BS) is characterized by radiculopathy caused by structural anomalies. Despite the structural deformity, conservative treatment is predominantly recommended due to surgery-related complications. Because of the diagnosis complexity, the incidence and contributing factors of BS, remain controversial. We report the case of a patient with BS who was treated with integrative Korean medicine (IKM). Moreover, we evaluated the epidemiological characteristics of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) from medical records of patients diagnosed with LSTV at 4 different medical clinics of Korean medicine. A 33-year-old male patient with low back pain and severe radiculopathy was diagnosed with BS (Castellvi Type II) on magnetic resonance imaging at a local orthopedic clinic. Additionally, the medical records of patients with BS who had been treated with IKM in 4 different institutions of Korean medicine were analyzed, and the characteristics of patients suffering from BS were identified. The patient underwent IKM treatment for 40 days as an inpatient. The patient's condition was assessed using the Euroqol 5-dimension index and Oswestry Disability Index, and symptom severity was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale. IKM was effective in improving pain and functional disability without causing any adverse effects. In a retrospective review of medical records, the study identified symptom trends reported by patients with LSTV. IKM demonstrates potential efficacy in BS management, with notable trends in LSTV-related symptomatology warranting further investigation.