Ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture as an addition to Korean medicine for back-to-back tension-type headaches after a traffic accident
Official title: Efficacy and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided Pharmacopuncture as an Adjunctive Therapy in Inpatients With Post-Traffic Accident Tension-Type Headache: A Randomized Controlled Pragmatic Pilot Trial
Run by Jaseng Medical Foundation · NCT07893496 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether adding ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture helps inpatients with tension-type headaches after a traffic accident, compared with standard integrative Korean medicine treatment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 19 Years to 69 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Jaseng Medical Foundation Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Daejeon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 3, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 26, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07893496 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 19 to 69 hospitalized for a traffic-accident–related tension-type headache within 14 days of onset and with NRS score of 5 or higher.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not respond to pharmacopuncture or who have contraindications to the procedure may see no added benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pragmatic, interventional study compares two approaches for post-accident tension-type headache within 14 days of onset: ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture plus conventional Korean medicine treatment versus the existing integrative Korean medicine treatment. Participants are adults 19 to 69 years old with a headache severity of 5 or higher on the Numeric Rating Scale and meeting ICHD-3 criteria for tension-type headache. Outcomes focus on safety and relative effectiveness of the adjunctive pharmacopuncture strategy in an inpatient setting. The trial is led by Jaseng Medical Foundation and conducted at Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience greater relief from headache symptoms and overall improved safety with the combined treatment approach.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in related integrative therapies suggest potential benefits, but this exact combination with ultrasound-guided pharmacopuncture is a newer, pragmatic comparison.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients hospitalized for the treatment of traffic accidents with tension-type headache originating from a traffic accident within 14 days of onset. * Patients with a headache NRS (Numeric Rating Scale) score of 5 or higher. * Patients diagnosed with tension-type headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) criteria: * Headache exhibiting at least two of the following characteristics: * Bilateral location * Pressing or tightening (non-pulsating) quality * Mild or moderate intensity * Not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs * Fulfilling both of the following conditions: * No nausea or vomiting * No more than one of photophobia or phonophobia * Patients aged between 19 and 69 years old (aged 19 to less than 70 years). * Participants who voluntarily decide to participate, fully understand the details of the clinical study, agree to follow precautions, and provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients diagnosed with specific serious medical conditions requiring surgical management rather than conservative treatment (e.g., acute fracture, dislocation, complete ligament rupture, etc.). * Cases where the cause of pain originates from conditions other than tension-type headache (e.g., intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, hypertension, ocular diseases, drug-induced headache, etc.). * Cases where surgical intervention is required due to suspected acute cervical spine fracture, herniated cervical disc, or spinal ligament injury. * Patients diagnosed with primary headache disorders other than tension-type headache, such as migraine or cluster headache. * Patients with other acute diseases (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction, kidney disease, diabetic neuropathy, dementia, epilepsy, etc.) that may interfere with the treatment effect or interpretation of study results. * Patients currently taking steroids, immunosuppressants, psychiatric medications, or other drugs that may affect the study findings. * Cases where pharmacopuncture treatment is inadequate or unsafe: patients with hemorrhagic diseases, those receiving anticoagulant therapy, or severe diabetic patients with a risk of infection. * Patients who have taken medications that may affect pain, such as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), or have received pharmacopuncture or physical therapy within the past 1 week. * Pregnant women, women who are planning to become pregnant, or nursing mothers. * Patients within 3 months following head or neck-related surgery. * Patients who finished participating in another clinical study less than 1 month prior, or who plan to participate in another clinical study during the study and follow-up period within 6 months from the date of selection. * Cases where it is difficult to obtain written informed consent for participation. * Other cases where the investigator deems the candidate unsuitable for participation in the clinical study.
Where it's running
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Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, Daejeon
Daejeon, South Korea Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Sujin Kim, KMD
- Email: naldo15@jaseng.org
- Phone: 82-010-5527-2015
Similar studies
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.