Lee Sang-Ho, Youn You Suk, Kim Min Chul, Sun Junghum, Ha Donghyon, Kim Tae-Hun
Chamjalham Hospital of Korean Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Chamjalham Hospital of Korean Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Mar 26;12:1544618. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1544618. eCollection 2025.
Ultrasound-guided acupuncture is a novel technique that utilizes ultrasonography to visualize needle placement in real-time, enhancing precision and reducing adverse events. In South Korea, the dual medical system has led to disputes over Korean Medicine doctors' use of biomedical devices. However, in 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that Korean Medicine doctors' use of ultrasound devices is not illegal, enabling broader clinical application. Ultrasound-guided acupuncture involves inserting a needle to a precise depth to reach targeted tissue while applying manual techniques based on ultrasound-guided injection therapy principles. This technique requires ultrasonography with a linear probe and is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, such as shoulder pain. By improving accuracy, ultrasound-guided acupuncture enhances the effectiveness and safety of both traditional acupuncture and emerging techniques like acupotomy and pharmacopuncture. However, its clinical use remains limited due to the lack of national health insurance coverage and insufficient clinical evidence. To establish its efficacy and safety, comparative clinical trials should first focus on musculoskeletal disorders, pain management, and neurological conditions, which are among its most frequent applications in Korea.
超声引导针刺是一种利用超声实时显示进针位置的新技术，可提高精准度并减少不良事件。在韩国，双重医疗体系引发了韩医医生使用生物医学设备的争议。然而，2022年，最高法院裁定韩医医生使用超声设备不违法，这使得其在临床上有了更广泛的应用。超声引导针刺是在基于超声引导注射治疗原则应用手法技术的同时，将针精确刺入目标组织的特定深度。该技术需要使用线性探头的超声检查，常用于治疗肌肉骨骼疾病，如肩部疼痛。通过提高准确性，超声引导针刺提高了传统针刺以及针刀和水针等新兴技术的有效性和安全性。然而，由于缺乏国家医疗保险覆盖以及临床证据不足，其临床应用仍然有限。为了确定其疗效和安全性，比较临床试验应首先关注肌肉骨骼疾病、疼痛管理和神经系统疾病，这些是其在韩国最常见的应用领域。
