Acupunct Electrother Res. 2001 ; 26(4): 263-75.

Atlanto-axial subluxation syndrome and management of intractable headache, neck pain and shoulder pain with auricular stimulation: a clinical case report.

Kim KH.

Kim Institute For Rehabilitation Medicine, Livingston, New Jersey USA.

Atlanto-axial subluxation syndrome is a condition that is easily overlooked, misdiagnosed and mismanaged. Anatomy, neurovascular involvement and description of clinical manifestations are reviewed. Bi-Digital O-Ring Test is employed to establish an accurate diagnosis and its value and accuracy described briefly. Bi-Digital O-Ring Test has been an important diagnosis confirmation method (reconfirmed by CT or MRI in over 95% of more than 850 clinical cases) in this author's practice of spinal disorder and intractable pain management. A newly described device, the KIM-STIM, offers auricular stimulation of multiple points, using electrical microcurrent. Each unit is individually custom-molded to the patient's ear, and fitted with multiple electrodes. It was found to be very effective in managing the majority of intractable pain, especially pain requiring multiple daily treatments in order for the patient to live and function normally. The KIM-STIM device allows the patient to self-manage the pain, by day or night, thus allowing for a reduction or elimination of medication intake and diminishing the necessity for frequent doctor visits.