Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness evaluation of acupoint thread-embedding for knee osteoarthritis of early to middle stage

AO Wanyi; ZHENG Wenchun; YANG Kaiyang; HOU Jun; YANG Gaiqin; QIN Weixun

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250304-k0003

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Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness evaluation of acupoint thread-embedding for knee osteoarthritis of early to middle stage

Clinical Research | 更新时间：2026-09-15

- Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness evaluation of acupoint thread-embedding for knee osteoarthritis of early to middle stage
- Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion Vol. 46, Issue 9, Pages: 1427-1433(2026)
- 作者机构：
  
  陕西省中医医院针灸科，西安　710003
  西安中医脑病医院脑病十一科，陕西　西安　710032
  陕西中医药大学
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250304-k0003
  CLC：
- Received：04 March 2025，
  
  Online First：23 July 2026，
  
  Published：12 September 2026
- 稿件说明：
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AO Wanyi, ZHENG Wenchun, YANG Kaiyang, et al. Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness evaluation of acupoint thread-embedding for knee osteoarthritis of early to middle stage[J]. Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 2026, 46(9): 1427-1433.
DOI：

AO Wanyi, ZHENG Wenchun, YANG Kaiyang, et al. Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness evaluation of acupoint thread-embedding for knee osteoarthritis of early to middle stage[J]. Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 2026, 46(9): 1427-1433. DOI： 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20250304-k0003.

摘要

目的：

比较穴位埋线与电针治疗早中期膝关节骨关节炎（KOA）的临床疗效，并通过成本-效果评价比较二者经济效益。

方法：

将66例早中期KOA患者随机分为穴位埋线组（33例，脱落1例）和电针组（33例，脱落2例）。穴位埋线组于患侧血海、梁丘、委中等穴予埋线治疗，每周1次；电针组于患侧血海、梁丘、足三里等穴予电针干预，疏密波，频率2 Hz/100 Hz，隔日1次，每周3次，两组均治疗4周。观察两组患者治疗前后和治疗结束后4周随访时西安大略和麦克马斯特大学骨关节炎指数（WOMAC）评分，治疗前后疼痛视觉模拟量表（VAS）评分和Lysholm评分，比较两组临床疗效，并基于WOMAC评分进行成本-效果分析。

结果：

治疗后，两组患者WOMAC、疼痛VAS评分较治疗前降低（

0.001），Lysholm评分较治疗前升高（

0.001）；随访时，穴位埋线组患者WOMAC评分较治疗前降低（

0.001），且低于电针组（

0.05）。穴位埋线组总有效率为93.8%（30/32），电针组总有效率为87.1%（27/31），两组总有效率比较差异无统计学意义（

0.05）；穴位埋线组成本-效果比和总成本均低于电针组。

结论：

穴位埋线、电针治疗均可改善早中期KOA患者膝关节功能、疼痛和稳定度，二者疗效相当，穴位埋线组远期疗效更优、成本更低、经济效益更高。

Abstract

Objective

To compare the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread-embedding and electroacupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of early to middle stage

and to evaluate their economic benefits based on cost-effectiveness analysis.

Methods

A total of 66 patients with KOA of early to middle stage were randomized into an acupoint thread-embedding group (33 cases

1 case dropped out) and an electroacupuncture group (33 cases

2 cases dropped out). In the acupoint thread-embedding group

acupoint thread-embedding was applied at Xuehai (SP10)

Liangqiu (ST34)

Weizhong (BL40)

etc.on the affected side

once a week. In the electroacupuncture group

electroacupuncture was applied at Xuehai (SP10)

Liangqiu (ST34)

Zusanli (SP36)

etc. on the affected side

with disperse-dense wave

in frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz

once every other day

3 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis index(WOMAC) score was observed before and after treatment

as well as at the follow-up of 4 weeks after treatment completion

the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of pain and the Lysholm score were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was evaluated between the two groups

and the cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted based on WOMAC score.

Results

After treatment

the WOMAC and pain VAS scores were decreased compared with those before treatment (

0.001)

and the Lysholm scores were increased compared with those before treatment (

0.001) in both groups. At follow-up

the WOMAC score in the acupoint thread-embedding group was decreased compared with that before treatment (

0.001)

and was lower than that in the electroacupuncture group (

0.05). The total effective rates were 93.8% (30/32) in the acupoint thread-embedding group and 87.1% (27/31) in the electroacupuncture group

with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (

0.05). The cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) and the total cost of the acupoint thread-embedding group were lower than those in the electroacupuncture group.

Conclusion

Both acupoint thread-embedding and electroacupuncture can improve knee joint function

pain and stability in patients with KOA of early to middle stage

with comparable efficacy

and the acupoint thread-embedding group shows better long-term efficacy

lower cost and higher economic benefit.

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