Daily Treatment with Traditional Korean Medicine and a Longer Hospitalization Period Aids Recovery in Patients with Lower Back Pain Sustained in Road Traffic Accidents

Background Length of hospitalization for patients with lower back pain sustained in road traffic accidents was assessed clinically. Methods In total, 170 patients with lower back pain injury sustained in road traffic accidents, were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups: Group A with a shorter hospitalization period (1?7 days) and Group B with a longer hospitalization period (8?14 days). Each group was treated daily with traditional Korean medicine including: acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, herbal decoction medicine, and chuna treatment. To compare the treatment effects between the 2 groups, health-related quality of life, Oswestry disability index, and numeric rating scale were used. Statistical analysis between the 2 groups was assessed using Chi-square test, independent t test, and paired t test. Results After hospitalization, Group A and Group B both showed a significant increase in their health-related quality of life scores and significant decreases in Oswestry disability index and numeric rating scale scores. In addition, Group B, with a longer hospitalization period than Group A, showed a significant improvement over Group A in its health-related quality of life and numeric rating scale scores. Conclusions This study suggests that control of pain caused by lower back injury sustained in a road traffic accident, may be more effectively achieved in patients receiving 8-14 days of hospitalization and traditional Korean medicine treatment, compared to those receiving < 7 days of hospitalization treatment. In the future, more systematic and large-scale studies are needed to ascertain the effects of other variables.