Effect of needle knife intervention on tensile mechanics of femoral quadriceps tendon in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

To observe the effects of acupotomy intervention on the behavior, morphology and tensile mechanics of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rabbits, and to explore the biomechanical effects of acupotomy on KOA. Twenty-four New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, electroacupuncture group and needle-knife group, with 6 rabbits in each group. In each model group, rabbit KOA model was established by fixing Videman's left hind limb in straight position for 6 weeks. In the electroacupuncture group, rats were treated left on Liang Qiu, Xue Hai, Nei Xi Yan and Wai Xi Yan 3 times a week for 3 weeks. In the acupotomology group, the left quadriceps femoris tendon was released with acupotomology, and the treatment was once a week for 3 weeks. Behavioral tests were performed using Lequesne MG knee joint evaluation method one week after the end of modeling and one week after the end of treatment, and HE staining and mechanical tests were performed one week after the end of treatment. Behavioral observation before treatment showed that there were significant differences in local pain, gait response, joint activity and joint swelling between the normal group and the model group(P<0.05), while there was no significant difference among the model group, electro-acupuncture group and needle-knife group(P>0.05). After treatment, the results showed that there were significant differences in local pain, gait response, joint activity and joint swelling among model group, electro-acupuncture group and needle-knife group compared with normal group(P<0.05); In local pain, the electro-acupuncture group was lower than the model group, and there was no significant difference(P>0.05); there was significant difference between needle knife group and model group(P<0.05); there was no significant difference between electro-acupuncture group and needle-knife group(P>0.05). In gait change, there was significant difference between model group and electro-acupuncture group(P<0.05); there was no significant difference between needle-knife group and model group(P>0.05). In joint activity, there was significant difference between electro-acupuncture group and model group(P<0.05). In joint swelling, compared with model group, there was significant difference on electro-acupuncture group and electro-knife group(P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between the electro-acupuncture group and the needle-knife group(P>0.05). Mechanics: Compared with the blank group, the ultimate load of the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01), the ultimate load of the electro-acupuncture group decreased(P>0.05), and the ultimate load of the needle-knife group increased(P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the ultimate load of the electro-acupuncture group increased significantly(P<0.05), and the ultimate load of the needle-knife group increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the electro-acupuncture group, the ultimate load of the needle-knife group increased(P>0.05). Compared with the blank group, the maximum displacement of the model group decreased significantly(P<0.01), and the maximum displacement of the electro-acupuncture group and the needle-knife group decreased(P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the maximum displacement of the electro-acupuncture group increased(P>0.05), and the maximum displacement of the needle-knife group increased significantly(P<0.05). Compared with the electro-acupuncture group, the maximum displacement of the needle-knife group increased(P>0.05). There was no significant difference in stiffness among groups(P>0.05). Acupotomy intervention can significantly change the behavior and morphology, significantly improve the mechanical properties of quadriceps femoris tendon stretch, and exert its biomechanical effects to achieve the purpose of treating KOA.