Effect of Korean medicine treatment on surgery and opioid prescription among patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a prevalent degenerative spinal condition in older adults, often necessitating surgical intervention and long-term pharmacological treatment. Korean medicine (KM) has emerged as a relatively safe alternative; however, its impact on surgical rates and opioid use in patients with LSS has not been thoroughly investigated. This nationwide retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the effects of KM treatment on these outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) for patients newly diagnosed with LSS in 2015. The KM group included patients who had ≥ 3 outpatient KM visits within 1 year of diagnosis and received KM care more frequently than Western medicine (WM). The control gro

SUBMITTER: Ha WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12855126 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature