턱관절균형요법으로 치료한 뚜렛 증후군 환자 3명에 대한 증례보고 = Case Report of Three Patients with Tourette Syndrome Treated with TMJ Balancing Therapy

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. It often begins in childhood and potentially impacts social, academic, and psychological functioning. This study investigates the efficacy of Temporomandibular Joint Therapy (TBT) using customized Cervical Balancing Appliances (CBAs) in improving symptoms of TS, focusing on both motor and vocal tics. Three patients diagnosed with TS, presenting motor and vocal tics, were treated using TBT at a specialized Korean medicine clinic. The diagnosis was based on DSM-5 criteria. Initial evaluations included cervical palpation tests, imaging studies (C-spine CT and X-ray), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) assessments for tic severity. TBT involves the application of CBAs tailored to correct cervical subluxations, as well as acupuncture and herbal medicine (Gami-Ukgansan). Symptom improvement was tracked using VAS scoring and imaging follow-ups. Following CBA treatment, all three patients had significant immediate and long-term improvements in their tic symptoms. Case 1 (14M): Vocal and motor tics improved instantly after CBA fitting, with sustained symptom reduction throughout treatment. Case 2 (19M): Severe vocal and motor tics, previously unresponsive to medication, improved notably post-CBA fitting, with VAS scores reflecting reduced severity over time. Case 3 (8M): Motor tics, including repetitive eye and shoulder movements, and vocal tics, such as humming, improved significantly post-treatment. Imaging studies confirmed corrected cervical alignment in all cases. No adverse effects were reported. This study suggests the effectiveness of TBT with CBAs as a non-invasive treatment for TS that addresses both motor and vocal tic symptoms. The immediate symptom improvement observed in all cases implies that CBAs may regulate brain circuits by correcting cervical misalignments. Further research with larger cohorts and controlled designs are warranted to validate these findings.