Efficacy of -needle radiofrequency for knee osteoarthritis guided by meridians-muscles theory / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the efficacy difference between -needle radiofrequency guided by meridians-muscles theory and oral administration of medication for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).@*METHODS@#One hundred patients with KOA were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 50 cases in each one. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with -needle radiofrequency guided by meridians-muscles theory at tendon nodes around knee joints ( points), 4 points per treatment, once every two weeks and two treatments were given. The patients in the medication group were treated with oral administration of celecoxib capsules, 1 capsule every day for 4 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) in the two groups were observed before treatment, after treatment and during 4-week follow-up visit. The clinical efficacy was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the VAS was reduced in the two groups after treatment and during 4-week follow-up visit (all <0.05), and the VAS score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (both <0.05). Compared before treatment, the pain score, stiffness score, activity function score and total score of WOMAC were reduced in the two groups after treatment and during 4-week follow-up visit (all <0.05), and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group (all <0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 80.0% (40/50) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 56.0% (28/50) in the medication group (<0.05). During 4-week follow-up visit, the total effective rate was 76.0% (38/50) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 40.0% (20/50) in the medication group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The efficacy of -needle radiofrequency guided by meridians-muscles theory is superior to oral administration of celecoxib capsules for KOA, which could relieve joint pain and stiffness, improve joint mobility, and has long effective duration.

Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis by Tendons of Minimally Invasive Therapy Combined Drug Ther- apy: a Clinical Observation of Sixty Cases / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy of tendons of minimally invasive therapy (TMIT) combined drug therapy by comparing it with treatment by drug therapy alone on patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 60 KOA patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group took Hydrochloric Acid Glucosamine Capsule and Celecoxib Capsule. Patients in the treatment group additionally received TMIT. The treatment course for all was 4 weeks. Scores for visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index were observed and recorded at week 1 and 4 after treatment by acupotomology mirror.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with before treatment, improvement was shown in VAS score, pain and stiffness degrees, activities and functions, and WOMAC scores at week 1 and 4 after treatment in all patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Besides, better effect was shown in the treatment group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TMIT combined drug therapy could relieve KOA patients' pain, stiffness and joint activities, elevate the overall efficacy. TMIT was easily operated with less injury.</p>