Objective: To observe the efficacy difference between fan-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 fan-needle radiofrequency guided by meridians-muscles theory at tendon nodes around knee joints (ashi 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 P<0.05), and the VAS score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (both P<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 P<0.05), and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group (all P<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 (P<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 (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The efficacy of fan-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.
Keywords: fan-needle; knee osteoarthritis (KOA); meridian and muscle; node; radiofrequency; transverse collateral.