Fracture Diagnosis After a Traffic Accident, What to Do Next — Complete Guide to Korean Medicine Treatment Procedures in Gangbuk Suyu Station
Author: Lee Moon-young, Director (Head Director of Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic)
This content has been prepared in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Service Act.
If you've been diagnosed with a fracture immediately after a traffic accident, you may feel at a loss about what to do first. Emergency treatment, insurance filing, treatment initiation — how quickly and correctly these three steps connect will affect both your subsequent recovery progress and insurance processing. This article will guide you through the Korean medicine treatment procedures step-by-step after a fracture diagnosis.
If You've Been Diagnosed with a Fracture from a Traffic Accident — 3 Things to Do Right Now
Immediately after receiving a fracture diagnosis, it's important to proceed in the following three steps.
• ① Emergency Stabilization Treatment — Do not move the fractured area arbitrarily or try to realign it yourself. Forceful movement can worsen surrounding soft tissue damage. It is a priority to maintain stability with the help of a medical professional or emergency responder until appropriate splinting is in place.
• ② Insurance Filing — Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible and secure a filing number. If the gap period without treatment becomes long, it may be difficult to receive recognition of the causal relationship between the accident and treatment in subsequent insurance processing.
• ③ Early Start of Outpatient Treatment — According to relevant clinical data, based on the auto insurance standard terms revised after January 2023, a basic 4-week period applies as the treatment standard for traffic accidents, and for less severe patients, early intensive treatment plays an important role in both recovery and insurance processing. The treatment path may vary depending on the degree of fracture (simple or complex) and location, so please confirm with your attending physician first.
How Does Korean Medicine Approach Traffic Accident Fractures?
Korean medicine cooperates with Western medicine methods in fixation and healing of the fracture itself, while focusing on comprehensively managing blood stasis, muscle tension, and spinal imbalance caused by impact.
The role Korean medicine treatment plays is threefold.
• Herbal Medicine Treatment — According to relevant clinical data, herbal medicine is prescribed that promotes qi and blood circulation from a blood stasis perspective and supports recovery of damaged tissue. It is known to help reduce inflammation and swelling.
• Acupuncture·Herbal Acupuncture — As mentioned in Hankyung Economic medical content, acupuncture treatment and herbal acupuncture procedures are utilized for muscle tension relief around the fracture site and recovery assistance. Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic applies blood stasis removal herbal acupuncture and high-concentration bee venom acupuncture.
• Chuna Therapy and Zero-Gravity Decompression Therapy — It is difficult to apply chuna directly to the fracture site. However, the body's imbalance caused by the fracture or muscle and joint tension adjacent to the fracture can be managed with chuna therapy.
When auto insurance is applied, you can receive Korean medicine treatment such as acupuncture, chuna, herbal acupuncture, and herbal medicine without additional out-of-pocket costs. However, depending on the severity of the fracture, Western medicine surgery or fixation may need to be performed first, so please discuss the treatment direction with your attending physician.
Management Flow After Traffic Accident Fracture at Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic
Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic (formerly Gwangdeok Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic Gangbuk Suyu Branch) combines skilled chuna therapy and zero-gravity decompression therapy to carefully manage the spine and joints that have become imbalanced after a fracture. We have an imaging test system through cooperation with partner hospitals, connecting you with MRI and X-ray examinations when one week has passed since the accident.
The treatment flow after your visit is as follows.
• Upon Visit — We begin consultations at 8 AM every day, 365 days a year, so a quick visit is possible immediately after the accident. At the first visit, we confirm the circumstances of the accident, the location of pain, and the fracture diagnosis details to set the treatment direction.
• One Week After the Accident — We coordinate MRI and X-ray imaging tests through our partner hospital network. Based on the imaging results, we identify the fracture range and presence of surrounding tissue damage, then refine treatment.
• Blood Stasis Removal Herbal Medicine Prescription — In the early stages of the accident, we prescribe a 3-week course of individually customized decocted herbal medicine for blood stasis removal. We proceed by checking progress at one-week intervals and adjusting the prescription. Shortly after the accident, we also prescribe Chingshinyuan for psychological stability and patches for muscle pain relief.
• Chuna Therapy and Zero-Gravity Decompression Therapy — Chuna therapy can be applied up to 20 times per accident under auto insurance standards. Even after this limit is exhausted, you can continue spine and joint management without interruption through the zero-gravity decompression device.
Things You Must Check Before Treatment
Before starting Korean medicine treatment, checking the following items in advance will make both treatment and insurance processing proceed more smoothly.
| Check Item | Main Content |
|---|---|
| Insurance Filing Number | Confirm whether the filing number has been secured after reporting to the insurance company |
| Treatment Start Timing | Early visit recommended to avoid a long gap period after the accident |
| Auto Injury Special Clause Coverage | According to Seoul National University Hospital medical information, fracture treatment is divided into emergency, main treatment, and rehabilitation stages, and insurance coverage may vary depending on each stage |
| Treatment Extension After 4 Weeks | According to relevant clinical data, treatment can be extended after submitting a diagnostic certificate after 4 weeks, and if you have an auto injury special clause, it can be processed in the existing manner without out-of-pocket costs |
| Chuna Session Limit | After 20 sessions per accident are used, alternative management through the zero-gravity decompression device is possible |
| Fracture Emergency Treatment | According to relevant data, in emergencies, preventing additional injury through splinting without forceful movement is key |
Those looking for a traffic accident Korean medicine clinic in Suyu Station, or those concerned about traffic accident treatment in Mia Intersection or post-traffic accident sequelae in Ssangmun Station can also visit Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic near Exit 3 of Suyu Station. Elevators are fully equipped, and you can use the nearby Garden Tower (Dobong-ro 328) parking lot for free.
We Will Consult with You Step by Step
Gangbuk Anjeong Korean Medicine Clinic will consult with you step by step. We provide consultations starting at 8 AM every day, 365 days a year, and you can conveniently schedule your visit through Naver reservations.
It's natural to feel at a loss about where to start immediately after being diagnosed with a fracture. How should you file insurance, when can you start Korean medicine treatment, can you receive chuna — we'll help you work through each of these questions one by one during your visit consultation.
The treatment direction varies depending on the fracture type, location, and individual health status, so an individually customized plan through consultation is necessary. We also operate evening consultations, so those who have difficulty visiting during daytime hours, such as office workers and students, can use our services conveniently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. I was diagnosed with a fracture after a traffic accident. Can I receive treatment at a Korean medicine clinic?
Rather than direct treatment on the fracture site, we approach managing blood stasis, muscle tension, and spinal imbalance caused by impact through herbal medicine, acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, and chuna. Depending on the severity of the fracture, concurrent Western medicine treatment may be necessary, so we'll confirm the treatment direction for you through consultation after your visit.
Q2. If I have a fracture, will my Korean medicine treatment costs be covered by auto insurance?
If it's a traffic accident covered by auto insurance, Korean medicine treatment costs including acupuncture, chuna, herbal acupuncture, and herbal medicine are often processed through insurance. However, this may vary depending on whether you have an auto injury special clause and your fault ratio, so it's good to check your filing number and contract details in advance.
Q3. I want to receive chuna therapy, but can it be applied to the fracture site?
It is difficult to apply chuna directly to the fracture site. However, chuna therapy can be utilized for spinal alignment distorted by the fracture, imbalance in adjacent joints, and surrounding muscle tension areas. Even after the chuna auto insurance limit (20 times per accident) is exhausted, continuous management is possible through the zero-gravity decompression device.
Q4. I couldn't start treatment right after the accident, but is it okay to visit now?
We recommend visiting. However, the longer the treatment gap period, the more it may affect recognition of the causal relationship with the accident, so it's best to visit as soon as possible. We'll help you organize the treatment direction available based on your current condition and the circumstances of the accident.
Non-covered medical fees are posted and guided within the clinic in accordance with Article 45 of the Medical Service Act.