[Therapeutic effect and mechanism of silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch in patients with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of ninety-two patients with KOA were randomly and equally divided into loxoprofen sodium group and silver needle heat conduction therapy + loxoprofen sodium (combination) group, with 46 cases in each group. Patients of the combination group were treated with silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch, while those of the loxoprofen sodium group were treated with loxoprofen sodium patch. The treatment was conducted for 4 weeks. The Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), bone metabolism index ［including bone gla protein (BGP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase isomer (TRACP)-5b］, and inflammation factors ［including the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-1β (IL-1β)］ were observed before and after treatment. The therapeutic effect was assessed after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium can effectively treat KOA, its mechanism may be related to alleviating inflammation and improving bone metabolism.