Effect of ozone combined with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate on the knee joint function and pain degree in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of ozone combined with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate on the knee joint function and pain degree in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods A total of 123 patients with knee osteoarthritis in our hospital from February 2016 to April 2017 were grouped according to the different ways of treatment. 61 cases in the control group were treated with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate, and 62 cases in the study group were treated with ozone based on the control group. The clinical effect, knee joint function score (Lysholm), pain degree score (VAS), and the levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) of the two groups were compared. Results There was statistically significant difference in clinical effect between the 2 groups (P<0.05); the total effective rate of the study group was 93.55% (58/62), higher than that of the control group [77.05% (47/61)], with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The Lysholm score of the study group at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after the treatment were higher than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The VAS score of the study group at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after the treatment were lower than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The levels of serum IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NO in the study group after treatment were lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion The effect of ozone combined with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis is significant, which can significantly improve the knee function and the vascular endothelial function, and reduce the degree of the inflammatory reaction and the pain. Key words: Intra-articular injection; Sodium hyaluronate; Ozone; Knee osteoarthritis; Knee joint function; Pain degree