A Case Report of Chronic Functional Constipation after Lumbar Interbody Fusion That Improved Following Comprehensive Traditional Korean Medicine Treatment

This case report describe the effectiveness of combination treatment with Korean medicine for chronic functional constipation after lumbar interbody fusion. A female patient was treated for constipation lasting more than 6 months after surgery for lumbar disc herniation. For assessment, we used a NRS and Health-related Quality of Life Instrument with 8-Item Questionnaire (HINT-8). To assess changes in stool appearance, we used the Bristol Stool Scale. After 2 months of treatment, the NRS decreased from 8 to 1, the HINT-8 total score increased from 25 to 13, and the Bristol stool scale also improved. This case suggests that combined treatment with herbal medicine can improve symptoms of chronic constipation.