Objective

2

To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods

2

A total of 60 patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group

30 cases each group. The control group received acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE4)，Dubi (ST35)

Yinlingquan (SP9)

Liangqiu (ST34)

Xuehai (SP10)

Yanglingquan (GB34) and Zusanli (ST36) on the affected side

once every other day

3 times a week. The observation group received blade needle therapy on the basis of the treatment in the control group

once every 3 days

2 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before treatment

after 2

4 weeks of treatment

and after 1 month of treatment completion (in follow-up)

the scores of pain visual analogue scale (VAS)

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and Lequesne index were observed in the two groups

and the clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated.

Results

2

After 2

4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up

the pain VAS scores

Lequesne index scores

and pain

s

tiffness

function scores of WOMAC in both groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (

P

<

0.05)

and the VAS scores

Lequesne index scores and pain

function scores of WOMAC in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (

P

<

0.05). The effective response rate in the observation group was 76.7% (23/30)

while that in the control group was 70.0% (21/30)

there was no statistically significant difference in the effective response rates between the two groups (

P

>

0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either group.

Conclusion

2

Acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy could alleviate pain and promote functional recovery in KOA patients

and achieve long-lasting improvements.