A Case Report on Ultrasound-Guided Pharmacopuncture Therapy for Acute Lumbar Sprain Targeting the Intermediate Branch Between the Longissimus and Iliocostalis Muscles

Objectives : This study aims to report a case of acute lumbar sprain in a patient whose symptoms improved significantly after receiving ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture combined with Korean medical treatments.Methods : A 30-year-old female patient with acute lumbar sprain caused by a fall experienced severe lumbar pain and restricted range of motion.Symptoms were evaluated before treatment and during follow-up using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain and the range of motion (ROM) for lumbar flexion and extension.Treatments included ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture, which targeted the medial branch of the spinal nerve located in the space between the longissimus and iliocostalis muscles.A total of 5cc of the pharmacological solution was administered, with 2.5 cc injected into the left side and 2.5 cc into the right side of the lumbar region.Additional treatments included acupuncture, Chuna manipulation, and physical therapy.Results : After the first treatment, the patient's NRS score decreased from 8 to 4. Additionally, the range of motion improved, with lumbar flexion increasing from 30 to 60 and extension from 15 to 30. Conclusions : The rapid and significant improvements observed in this case highlight the potential of integrating ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture in