Comparison of the Clinical Efficacy of Arthroscopic Surgery and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic surgery and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The research period was from February 2022 to January 2023. A total of 79 patients with knee osteoarthritis were included and divided into the study group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 39) by lottery method using computer software. The patients in the control group were treated with arthroscopic surgery, and the patients in the study group were treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy. The Lysholm score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) score, superoxide dismutase (SOD) level, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were compared between the two groups. After treatment, the Lysholm score of the study group was higher than that of the control group, and the VAS score and WOMAC score were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). While the MDA level of the study group was lower than that of the control group, and the SOD level was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for patients with knee osteoarthritis can restore joint function, relieve pain, and effectively regulate the level of oxygen free radicals.