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Table 3 Diagnostic tools most frequently used for lumbar intervertebral disc displacement and Korean Medicine syndrome differentiation of symptoms

From: A survey among Korea Medicine doctors (KMDs) in Korea on patterns of integrative Korean Medicine practice for lumbar intervertebral disc displacement: Preliminary research for clinical practice guidelines

Factors

n (%)

Tests

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)a

121 (98.4)

 

X-ray

117 (95.1)

 

Computed tomography (CT)

75 (61)

 

C-reactive protein (CRP)

13 (10.6)

 

Electromyogram

11 (8.9)

 

Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI)

9 (7.3)

 

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

7 (5.7)

Main points of consideration when reading MRI images

Degree of nerve compression

110 (89.4)

 

Degree of intervertebral disc displacementa

104 (84.6)

 

Correlations between levels of disc displacement on MRI and clinical symptoms

88 (71.5)

 

Number and level of displaced discs (e.g. L1/2 vs. L5/S1)

23 (18.7)

 

Degree of intervertebral disc degeneration

14 (11.4)

 

Alignment of vertebrae

12 (9.8)

 

Degree of degeneration of vertebral body and/or joints (spondylosis)

9 (7.3)

 

Diameter/area of spinal canal

9 (7.3)

Physical examination

Straight leg raise test (SLR)a

119 (96.7)

 

Manual muscle testing (MMT)

65 (52.8)

 

Heel walk/toe walk

40 (32.5)

 

Valsalva test

29 (23.6)

 

Well leg raise test

28 (22.8)

 

Sensory testing

28 (22.8)

 

Bragard test

22 (17.9)

 

Laseque sign

13 (10.6)

 

Other

23 (18.6)

Korean Medicine syndrome differentiation theories

Eight principle pattern identification (八綱辨證)a

87 (70.7)

 

Qi and Blood diagnosis (氣血辨證)

86 (69.9)

 

Meridian system diagnosis (經絡辨證)

84 (68.3)

 

Organ system diagnosis (臟腑辨證)

53 (43.1)

 

Six meridian diagnosis (六經辯證)

24 (19.5)

 

Sasang constitutional medicine diagnosis (四象體質辨證)

21 (17.1)

 

Defensive Qi and nutrient Blood diagnosis (衛氣營血辨證)

7 (5.7)

10 Types of LBP from ‘Dongeuibogam’

LBP from Blood stagnation (瘀血腰痛)a

69 (56.1)

 

LBP from Phlegm (痰飮腰痛)

45 (36.6)

 

LBP from contusion (挫閃腰痛)

41 (33.3)

 

LBP from Kidney deficiency (腎虛腰痛)

25 (20.3)

 

LBP from Wind pathogen (風腰痛)

19 (15.4)

 

LBP from Dampness pathogen (濕腰痛)

13 (10.6)

 

LBP from Dampness-Heat pathogen (濕熱腰通)

13 (10.6)

 

LBP from Cold pathogen (寒腰痛)

9 (7.3)

 

LBP from Qi(氣腰痛)

9 (7.3)

 

LBP from retention of food (食積腰痛)

5 (4.1)

  1. aFactor most frequently ranked 1st