[Clinical observation of Yishen Huoxue decoction(YSHXD) for the treatment of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head at early and middle stage].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical efficacy of Yishen Huoxue decoction(YSHXD) for the treatment of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head at early and middle stage. METHODS: From January to June 2016, 69 patients (72 hips) with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head at early and middle stage were divided into treatment group and control group according to therapeutic methods. In treatment group, there were 35 patients 43 hips, including 15 males and 20 females, aged from 28 to 62 years old with an average of(41.80±11.03) years old, 6 hips were at the stage I, 27 hips were at the stageII, 10 hips were at the stage IIIa according to ARCO classification; and treated by using YSHXD, one dose a day for 12 months. In control group, there were 34 patients 39 hips, including 16 males and 18 females, aged from 31 to 61 years old with an average of (43.35±13.52) years old, 5 hips were at the stage I, 26 hips were at the stageII, 8 hips were at the stage IIIa according to ARCO classification; and treated by using alendronate sodium tablets 70 mg every week for 12 months. Preoperative and postoperative HSS score at 2 weeks were observed and compared, EQ-5D index was used to compare clinical effects. ARCO classification was applied to imaging evaluation, the stage of ARCO over IIIa was considered as end point of observation. The final following-up time and ARCO classification were recorded and performed Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: All patients were followed-up from 26 to 76 months with an average of(43.50±13.26) months. Postoperative Harris score at 2 years in treatment group (84.92±7.56) was higher than that of before treatment (73.58±10.02) (P<0.05), and higher than that of control group(79.61±10.92)(P<0.05), especially the scores of joint function and activity were higher than those of control group(P<0.05). EQ-5D index in treatment group 0.66±0.12 was higher than that of control group 0.59±0.12(P<0.05). Nine hips were collapsed in treatment group at final follow-up, and 10 hips were collapsed in control group, and had no statistical difference between two groups (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in kaplan-meier survival analysis curves between two groups (P>0.05). There were statistical difference in survival rate between the early, middle ARCO stage and different Harris evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: YSHXD for the treatment of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head at early and middle stage has obviously clinical effects, could improve hip joint function, and quality of life, and delay the process of femoral head necrosis collapse.

[Limited external fixation of plastic cardboard for the treatment of senile comminuted humeral fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical efficacy of limited external fixation with plastic paperboard in treating senile proximal comminuted humeral fracture. METHODS: From June 2015 to December 2017, 32 senile patients with proximal comminuted fracture of humerus were treated with plasticized cardboard after manual external fixation. Among them, including 13 males and 19 females aged from 55 to 85 years old with an average of(68.22±8.36) years old; 18 patients on the left side and 14 patients on the right side; all patients were regularly review shoulder X-rays and performed appropriate functional exercises. Constant-Murley shoulder joint scoring was used to evaluate clinical effects. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were followed up for 3 to 12 months with an average of (4.97±2.39) months. All patients were underwent functional exercise under guidance of physicians. Nine patients were treated with topical Chinese herbal moist heat compresses to promote shoulder function recovery. Thirty-one patients were obtained fracture healing, the time ranged from 5 to 12 weeks with an average of(7.44±1.72)weeks. One patient was not healed due to comminuted fracture of fracture end and the separation was large, the blood supply to humeral head was insufficient for necrosis absorption. Postoperative Constant-Murley shoulder score at 3 months was 87.56±6.93; 15 patients got excellent results, 14 good, 2 fair and 1 poor. CONCLUSIONS: Limited external fixation with plastic paperboard for the treatment of senile proximal comminuted humeral fracture could ensure biomechanical stability of fracture, promote early recovery of shoulder joint function and shorten recovery time.

Golden plaster for pain therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is a relatively common musculoskeletal disorder that increases in prevalence with age. Worldwide, knee osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability, particularly in the elderly. In numerous trials of agents for long-term pain therapy, no well-established and replicable results have been achieved. Complementary and alternative medical approaches have been employed for thousands of years to relieve knee osteoarthritis pain. Among herbal medicines, the golden plaster is the preferred and most commonlyused method in China to reduce pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis, as it causes few adverse effects. The purpose of this study will be to evaluate the efficacy and safety of golden plaster on pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS/DESIGN: This study will be a multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 320 participants aged 45 to 79 years with knee osteoarthritis, whose scores on a visual analog scale (VAS) are more than 20 mm,will be randomly allocated into a treatment group and a control group. A golden plaster will be administered externally to participants in the treatment group for 2 weeks, while the control group will receive a placebo plaster externally for 2 weeks. Follow-up will be at regular intervals during a 4-week period with a VAS score for pain, quality of life, and complications. DISCUSSION: This study will be a methodologically sound randomized controlled trial to assess pain relief after the intervention of golden plaster, compared to a placebo intervention in patients with knee osteoarthritis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-13003418.