The Effect of Korean Medical Treatments with Functional Cerebrospinal Therapy on Patients from Traffic Accidents with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Functional Cerebrospinal Therapy(FCST) on patients from traffic accidents with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. Methods :We reviewed the medical records of 33 patients who were treated for injuries stemming from traffic accidents at the Dong-Eui University Korean Medicine Hospital from December 29th, 2015 to August 29th, 2016. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A(n = 15) and Group B(n = 18). In Group A, patients received Korean medical treatments with FCST using an Accurate Balancing Appliance(ABA) a standard intra-oral appliance. In Group B, patients received Korean medical treatments without FCST. To estimate the efficacy of the treatments in decreasing pain, we analyzed the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Neck Disability Index(NDI) and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI). Results : In Group A, VAS of headache(VAS H), VAS of neck & nuchal pain(VAS N), VAS of shoulder pain(VAS S), and VAS of low back pain(VAS L) were significantly improved during each period. In Group B, VAS H was significantly improved during each period, except the period from the first visit to two weeks later. VAS N, S, L were significantly improved during each period, except the period from the first visit to one week later. The total VAS improvement during each period in Group A was significantly higher than Group B. In both groups, NDI and ODI were improved significantly during each period. The improvement of NDI and ODI during each period in Group A was significantly higher than Group B. Conclusion : According to the results, FCST using ABA may be an effective treatment for patients from traffic accidents.