針藥並用治療橈骨骨折術後關節僵硬與肢體腫脹之個案報告

Acupuncture Combined with Chinese Herbal Medicine for Postoperative Joint Stiffness and Limb Swelling after Radius Fracture: A Case Report

骨折接受復位手術的患者，常因為骨折及手術創傷，以及發炎、骨癒合延遲、植入假體等因素，導致出現術後併發症。本案例報告描述了一名73歲女性患者的治療經過，並探討了中醫介入對於改善骨科手術後併發症的效果。病患因交通事故發生橈骨中段與橈骨頭骨折，採取開放復位內固定術，術後患者持續發生患肢嚴重腫脹、關節活動嚴重受限等症狀，因而轉介至中醫接受輔助治療。經五個月的中醫藥物針灸合併治療後，疼痛感減退明顯，原本腫脹處幾乎消腫，關節活動度亦大幅上升，生活品質得到改善。此案例提供中西醫整合介入骨折術後康復之臨床經驗與初步支持證據。

Patients undergoing reduction surgery for fractures often experience postoperative complications due to the initial fracture, surgical trauma, inflammation, delayed bone healing, or the presence of prosthetic implants. This case report describes the treatment process of a 73-year-old female patient and explores the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) intervention in improving complications following orthopedic surgery. The patient suffered from fractures of the radial shaft and radial head in a traffic accident and underwent Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF). After the surgery, she experienced persistent severe swelling of the affected limb and significant restriction in joint range of motion, leading to her referral for adjunctive TCM treatment. After five months of combined therapy involving herbal medicine and acupuncture, the swelling and pain almost entirely subsided, and the ROM of joint increased substantially. Quality of life showed marked improvement. This case further validates the significance of integrating Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine in fracture rehabilitation.