Efficacy evaluation of acupotomy combined with platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of early and middle osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine acupotomy combined with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of early and middle osteoarthritis.

Methods: Eighty cases of early and middle knee joint pain patients admitted in our hospital were selected in this retrospective study. They were divided into the control group and observation group according to treatment methods, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was treated with PRP, and the observation group was treated with acupotomy + PRP. Clinical response rate, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, Lequesne score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index and SF-36 quality of life score were compared between the two groups.

Results: The total clinical response rate in the observation group was higher than that in control group (P<0.01). VAS pain score, knee joint WOMAC index and Lequesne score in the two groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment, and those in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). SF-36 quality of life score was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (all P<0.001).

Conclusion: Acupotomy combined with PRP in the treatment of early and middle osteoarthritis can relieve pain and improve joint function, which is worthy of clinical promotion.