A Case Report of <italic>Dodamhwalhul-tang</italic> and acupuncture treatment for patient with lateral pontine syndrome

Background: Lateral pontine syndrome is a rare brainstem infarction caused by anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) occlusion, presenting with ipsilateral facial palsy, facial hypoesthesia, and vertigo. This report details the clinical course and effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment, aiming to inform early diagnosis and management strategies.Case summary: A 65-year-old patient with acute left pontine infarction was diagnosed with lateral pontine syndrome. The patient was hospitalized for 17 days and treated with <i>Dodamhwalhul-tang</i> decoction, acupuncture, moxibustion, additional herbal medicine, and fluid therapy. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Yanagihara score. After treatment, VAS scores improved for left facial palsy (6→2), right-sided hypoesthesia (7→5), and vertigo (7→1). The Yanagihara score increased from 37 to 40.Conclusion: This is the first reported case of lateral pontine syndrome treated with Korean medicine. Improvements in facial palsy and vertigo suggest potential benefits of <i>Dodamhwalhul-tang</i> and acupuncture, highlighting the value of integrating Korean medicine approaches into stroke rehabilitation.