I have heard back. I appreciate the effort to answer my questions.
———
Hello.
Thank you for your interest about our study.
1. I understand that treatment is 3 times per week. Is this correct? Can you do more treatments in one week?
We performed the procedure 2–3 times a week for the first 2–3 weeks. After confirming a marked continuous decrease or disappearance of tinnitus, we tapered the treatment to 1 or 2 times per week and then once every 1 or 2 weeks. Treatment was terminated when patients felt comfortable for over 2 weeks during the treatment period, or when patients wanted to stop the treatment.
Also, we can do more treatment in a week. But, 3 times per week is enough for treatment.
2. Can you say, on average, how many treatments a person would need? How long would a person have to stay in South Korea for treatment?
The number of treatments is about fifteen if averaged, ignoring the patient's age, underlying disease, and duration of illness.
This treatment process takes on average 2 to 3 months.
Therefore, if you are coming for treatment from abroad, we recommend that you come with sufficient time.
3. The study ended in December 2018. Do you know how many patients you have treated in total with this method? Have you improved the treatment since December 2018? Do you have a lot of patients now using this treatment?
In fact, we've been treating patients with this therapy over 20 years. The overall success rate is similar to that of the study, and repeated treatment resulted in better outcomes even if the response were slow.
I've not calculated exactly how many people have tried this treatment. But I think there are over 700 people in our single institution alone. If I include my disciple's clinic, it is over 1000 people.
4. You have stated that "In more than 87.5% of patients (14/15 subacute, 35/40 chronic), tinnitus disappeared or had significantly reduced by the end of the treatment."
Can you tell me if this figure is still true today if you now take into account all patients that you have treated using this method (or all patients for whom you have evidence of success or failure of treatment)?
Results are similar for patients who have completed treatment. T-VAS score was usually reduced significantly from 7.13 to 0.6 in the subacute group and from 7.73 to 1.53 in the chronic group (not zero).
For example 10 person try this procedure 2 out of 10 cured (tinnitus all gone). 5~6 persons out of 10 improved enough that it is not bothered. 1~2 persons out of 10 not changed.
And severe hearing loss (who need hearing aids), heavy alcohol consumption, chronic heart and kidney diseases, diabetes and long tinnitus duration are poor prognostic factors.
5. Have you followed up further with the patients in the trial to see if their tinnitus has changed after 1 year?
As we mentioned in our paper. The follow-up period is relatively short. So, we did not checked all of them. However, some patients continued to visit our clinics for other problems, and they are consistently maintain their tinnitus improvement without change.
6. Are there any adverse side effects of the treatment? Can the needling be dangerous if wrongly placed? Can there be any nerve damage?
Rarely negligible nerve and vessel injuries, rarely transient dizziness, needle insertion pain, postintervention pain for 1~2 days, rarely transient facial palsy (5~15 minutes) which is a good sign for tinnitus treatment because it confirmed that the needle was close to the facial nerve.
I have had no serious side effects with my patients.
7. The cost is US$200-$300 per treatment. Is this correct?
Costs for treatment are approximately between 200~300 US dollars per each treatment with medical insurance. (If patient doesn't have insurance it costs about 250-350 US dollars per each treatment).
8. Your study was done with So Woon Sirh, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Wiltse Memorial Hospital, Suwon-si, South Korea and Hah Yong mun Department of Neurosurgery, Yangju Armed Forces Hospital, Yangju-si, South Korea Do you know if this treatment has been used outside of your pain clinic? Have you worked with any other hospitals or clinics using this method?
Have you treated any person outside of South Korea?
Yes. over 15 institutions in Korea. A study on Korean patients only.
Thank you.
English might be a little bit broken. It is my second foreign language, so please understand.
Best regards
Heon Man Sirh.
———
They also replied to my chaser asking me to be patient since they are replying to each enquiry in order of receipt. Must have received a fair few.
@Jerad - I did not ask about Lidocaine alternatives in the original email. I have not forgotten though. I will ask if I contact them again.
Member