Clinical effect of oral Xingshi decoction combined with warming needle moxibustion in treating acute knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of Xingshi decoction combined with warming needle moxibustion combined with conventional western medicine on acute knee arthritis. Methods A total of 86 patients with acute knee arthritis were randomly divided into two groups, 43 in each group. The control group took diclofenac capsules orally and methotrexate once a week, while the observation group took Xingshi decoction and warming needle moxibustion on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The Rheumatoid factor (RF), high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and IL-1β were detected by ELISA, and pain rating index (PRI), VAS and present pain intensity (PPI) were evaluated by McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ). The knee function was assessed by the evaluation scale, and the curative effect was evaluated by 28 joint disease activity-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) scores. Results The total effective rate was 88.4% (38/43) in the observation group and 62.8% (27/43) in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups (Z=2.678, P=0.007). After treatment, ESR (30.95 ± 3.14 mm/h vs. 55.13 ± 3.28 mm/h, t=34.919), RF (81.36 ± 5.13 U/ml vs. 121.73 ± 7.25 U/ml, t=29.807), hs-CRP (10.13 ± 3.12 mg/L vs. 34.26 ± 3.17 mg/L, t=35.575), IL-1β (58.13 ± 3.12 pg/ml vs. 96.76 ± 3.17 pg/ml, t=56.952) of the observation group were significantly lower than those of control group (P<0.01); and PRI, VAS and PPI scores of SF-MPQ in observation group were significantly lower than those of control group (t values were 19.661, 11.056 and 23.524, respectively, P<0.01) and the scores of walking, swelling, sense of stability, strangulation and stair-climbing were significantly higher than those of the control group (t values were 11.071, 13.464, 9.102, 9.804, 10.012, respectively, P<0.01). Conclusions The Xingshi decoction combined with warming needle moxibustion is effective in treating acute knee arthritis. It can effectively relieve pain and inflammation of patients, thus improving knee joint function. It has certain clinical application value. Key words: Arthritis; Acute pain; Xingshi decoction; Acupuncture points; Needle warming therapy; Moisten compress therapy; Comparative effectiveness research