A Scoping Review of Ultrasound-Guided Acupotomy in Traditional Korean Medicine Clinical Practice

This study aims to systematically map and synthesize the existing clinical research on ultrasound-guided acupotomy conducted in Traditional Korean Medicine (KM) clinical practice in the Republic of Korea using a scoping review methodology. The review will be conducted in accordance with the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive literature search will be performed using major domestic Korean databases (KCI, RISS, DBpia, ScienceON, and OASIS) as well as MEDLINE via PubMed, from database inception to January 6, 2026. Eligible studies will include primary clinical studies and technical notes conducted in real-world KM clinical settings, such as Korean medicine hospitals and clinics. This review will identify research trends, target conditions and anatomical structures, ultrasound guidance techniques, procedural characteristics, and patterns of safety and adverse event reporting. The results of this review are expected to clarify current clinical application patterns of ultrasound-guided acupotomy in KM clinical practice and to identify gaps in the existing literature that may inform future clinical research and guideline development.