Biomedical subjects

J Ngeow

Publications and source records attributed to J Ngeow.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Acupuncture for chronic low back pain in older patients: a randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if acupuncture is an effective, safe adjunctive treatment to standard therapy for chronic low back pain (LBP) in older patients. METHODS: The inclusion criteria for subjects were: (i) LBP > or =12 weeks and (ii) age > or =60 yr; the exclusion criteria were (i) spinal tumour, infection or fracture and (ii) associated neurological symptoms. The subjects were randomized to two groups. The control group of subjects continued their usual care as directed by their physicians, i.e. NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, paracetamol and back exercises. Subjects in the acupuncture group in addition received biweekly acupuncture with electrical stimulation for 5 weeks. Outcome was measured by the modified Roland Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) at weeks 0, 2, 6 and 9. The primary outcome measure was change in RDQ score between weeks 0 and 6. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were enrolled, with eight drop-outs. Twenty-four subjects were randomized to the acupuncture group and 23 were randomized to the control group. Acupuncture subjects had a significant decrease in RDQ score of 4.1 +/- 3.9 at week 6, compared with a mean decrease of 0.7 +/- 2.8 in the control group (P = 0.001). This effect was maintained for up to 4 weeks after treatment at week 9, with a decrease in RDQ of 3.5 +/- 4.4 from baseline, compared with 0.43 +/- 2.7 in the control group (P = 0.007). The mean global transition score was higher in the acupuncture group, 3.7 +/- 1.2, indicating greater improvement, compared with the score in the control group, 2.5 +/- 0.9 (P < 0.001). Fewer acupuncture subjects had medication-related side-effects compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture is an effective, safe adjunctive treatment for chronic LBP in older patients.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗

PubMed1998

Percutaneous laser disc decompression in spinal stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined whether percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is an effective treatment for spinal stenosis where bulging or protruding discs are a contributing factor. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal stenosis is associated primarily with the middle-aged and elderly patients, its chief symptom being low back and/or radicular pain worsened by walking. The condition is particularly resistant to conservative measures and to open surgery. PLDD is a minimally invasive treatment for intervertebral disc protrusions with low morbidity and a high success rate. METHODS: This unblinded study was undertaken to determine whether PLDD would alleviate the pain of spinal stenosis in patients who also had protruding lumbar discs. Thirty-five patients of both sexes and all ages with MRI-documented lumbar spinal stenosis associated with bulging or protruding discs were treated with PLDD on an outpatient basis. Pain relief was the only parameter followed. Patients were asked to rate their pain immediately after treatment, one day later, four weeks later, and at a follow-up ranging from five to forty-nine months later. Pain was quantified on a scale of 0-10, with 0 being a total absence of pain and 10 being severe pain. A score of 0-2 was considered excellent, 3-5 good, and 6-10 poor. RESULTS: Excellent results were seen in 69% of cases, good in 9%, and poor in 22%. Pain relief immediately after treatment always continued through the four weeks and five to forty-nine-month follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: It was our conclusion that PLDD compares favorably with open surgery in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis that is partially or completely due to bulging or protruding discs.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the knee. Causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Sixty patients with the diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the knee were evaluated retrospectively at our institution. The average followup was 2 years. Fifty-five (92%) patients treated with outpatient sympathetic blockade had resolution of the symptoms attributed to reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The time from onset of symptoms to initiation of treatment did not affect the ultimate outcome. The prognosis was most closely related to the presence or absence of an anatomic lesion that would continue to act as a painful stimulus. Eighty-one percent (29 of 36) of patients who had a significant anatomic lesion or surgical correction of a lesion had a complete resolution of their knee symptoms. However, only 21% (5 of 24) of patients with a persistent anatomic lesion in the knee had complete resolution. Fourteen patients required preliminary sympathetic blockade therapy before the underlying cause could be identified. This study emphasizes the need for establishing a precise diagnosis before contemplating any surgery of the knee, including arthroscopy. Arthroscopic procedures were the most common event precipitating reflex sympathetic dystrophy in this study.

Adolescent↗