ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsA total of 180 KOA patients treated between January 2012 and June 2015 were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Chinese medicine group (group A, n=60) with acupuncture and irradiation therapy of specific electromagnetic wave therapeutic apparatus , western medicine group (group B, n=60) with oral glucosamine hydrochloride tablets and knee joint cavity injection of sodium hyaluronate, and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine group (group C, n=60) with treatments combining those in both group A and B. The treatment course was 6 weeks. The Western Ontario & McMaster University (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index score and total effective rate were evaluated before treatment and 2 weeks after treatment, end of treatment and 5 months after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the average improvement of WOMAC scores in the three groups was significantly different (P ＜ 0.05) . The total effective rate was 78.33% in group A, 83.33% in group B, and 91.67% in group C. The difference of total effective rate between group C and A, and between group C and B was statistically significant (P＜0.05) ; and it was also statistically significant between group A and B (P ＜ 0.05) . There were two cases of adverse reactions in group A, two in group B, and two in group C, and the reactions were all relatively mild without any serious adverse events. ConclusionsChinese medicine and western medicine are both effective and safe for the treatment of KOA. When they are combined, the effect is further enhanced with no increase of adverse reactions.
【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the results of glucosamine hydrochloride in the treatment of knee degenerativeosteoarthritis (DOA) . Methods From February 2006 to January 2007, 60 patients with knee DOA were treated with glucosaminehydrochloride,including 15 males and 45 females. The ages of patients ranged from 41 to 67 years with an average ageof 57.5 years. The disease course ranged from 6 months to 3 years. Oral glucosamine hydrochloride was given twice a day, each750 mg, for a 6-week course of treatment; another course of treatment was repeated after 4 months. After two courses of treatment,the international standard DOA score of Lequesne index was used to evaluate the rest of knee pain, sports pain, tenderness,joints activity, morning stiffness and walking abil ity. Results All 60 patients finished treatment, various cl inical symptomsfor DOA disappeared completely in 31 cases and subsided in 27 cases; the cure rate was 51.7% and the total response rate was96.7%. The scores of rest pain, sport pain, tenderness, joints activity, morning stiffness and the abil ity to walk for knee after treatmentwere 0.5±0.2,0.7±0.4,0.8±0.3,0.9±0.4,0.6±0.3 and 0.9±0.4, showing statistically significant differences (P lt; 0.01) whencompared with preoperation (1.6±0.5,2.1±0.4,2.2±0.5,1.8±0.6,1.7±0.4 and 2.0±0.4). Adverse effect occurred in 3 cases (5%)and the patients recovered without special treatment. Conclusion Glucosamine hydrochloride can cure knee DOA withsymptom-rel ieving and joint function-improving action.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets in treating knee cartilage injury resulting from rheumatoid arthritis. MethodsWe selected 200 knee cartilage injury patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated in our hospital from January 2011 to January 2015 as the research subjects. They were divided into control group (n=98) and observation group (n=102) according to the time of admission. The control group was treated with conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), while the observation group was treated with glucosamine hydrochloride tablets on the basis of DMARDs. The treatment effect was evaluated and compared between the two groups of patients 18, 36 and 54 weeks after the treatment. ResultsFifty-four weeks later, knee pain score of the observation group was better than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05) . The observation group had a lower Noyes evaluation level than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05) . Adverse reaction in the observation group was 3.92% and it was 3.06% in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05) . ConclusionGlucosamine hydrochloride tablets combined with conventional anti-rheumatic treatment is effective for knee cartilage injury caused by rheumatoid arthritis, which can promote cartilage repair, and it is worthy of clinical application.
ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect of glucosamine hydrochloride combined with calcium and vitamin D on knee osteoarthritis. MethodsA total of 120 female outpatients with knee osteoarthritis from January 2014 to January 2015 were selected. The patients were randomly divided into study group and control group (60 patients in each group) according to their treatment sequence. The patients in the study group were given oral calcium citrate, alfacalcidol and glucosamine hydrochloride while those in the control group were given glucosamine hydrochloride only. Both groups were investigated and scored by Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire before and three and six months after treatment. ResultsThree and six months after the treatment, WOMAC scores of both groups were lower than those before the treatment with significant differences (P<0.05). Three months after the treatment, WOMAC scores between the two groups didn't differ much (P>0.05), while the difference between the two groups was significant 6 months after the treatment (P<0.05). Three months after the treatment, the difference of total effective rate in the study group (43.3%) and control group (41.7%) was not significant (P>0.05), while the rate in the study group (65.0%) was obviously higher than that in the control group (46.7%) 6 months after the treatment (P<0.05). ConclusionGlucosamine hydrochloride has exact effect on knee osteoarthritis. There are differences in the therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis between glucosamine hydrochloride combined with calcium and vitamin D and glucosamine hydrochloride alone after six-month treatment.
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of glucosamine hydrochloride on chronic lumbago and backache. MethodsWe selected 328 outpatients with chronic lumbago and backache diagnosed between May 2014 and May 2015, and randomly (with single blind method) divided them into study group (n=172) and control group (n=156). Patients in the control group were treated with ibuprofen and placebo, while those in the study group were treated with ibuprofen and glucosamine hydrochloride. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) was used for investigation at three time points (before the treatment, one month and two months after the treatment). ResultsThe score of SF-MPQ in the study group was 64.34±23.35 before the treatment, 44.04±13.22 one month after the treatment, and 19.87±8.11 two months after the treatment. While in the control group, the results at those three time points were 65.19±24.12, 47.04±11.36, and 54.44±21.39, respectively. There was no obvious difference between the two groups one month after the treatment (P>0.05). The pain was alleviated in both of the two groups one month after the treatment, while the therapeutic effect in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group two months after the treatment (P<0.05). Archenteric complications were found in 3 patients (1.74%) in the study group and 2 (1.28%) in the control group without a significant difference (P>0.05). ConclusionGlucosamine hydrochloride may effectively alleviate the lumbago and backache without any obvious adverse reactions.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy of glucosamine hydrochloride and diacerein for patients with knee osteoarthritis and the MRI variation. MethodsBetween January and June 2014, 90 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized into three groups: group A (treated by glucosamine hydrochloride), group B (treated by diacerein) and group C (treated by both glucosamine hydrochloride and diacerein). The score of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index of osteoarthritis, MRI cartilage injury Recht grading and the curative effects for bone marrow edema, joint cavity effusion and meniscus injury were compared before and after the treatment. ResultsThe scores of WOMAC after treatment in all the groups were improved, while the therapeutic effect of group C lasted longer when medical treatment suspended. The number of articular surface with different degrees of cartilage injury showed no statistically significant change in all three groups (P ＞ 0.05) . The state of bone marrow edema and joint cavity effusion were improved with a statistically significant difference in all groups (P ＜ 0.05) . Patients with lateral meniscus degeneration in group A and patients with medial meniscal tear in group B both increased with statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05) . However, in group C, patients with lateral meniscus degeneration or meniscal tear decreased with statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05) . ConclusionsThe treatment for osteoarthritis by glucosamine hydrochloride is effective, and the curative effect lasts longer when treated by both glucosamine hydrochloride and diacerein. Glucosamine hydrochloride ameliorates the bone marrow edema and joint cavity effusion. Treatment together with diacerein leads to a better therapeutic effect for patients with meniscus degeneration, yet further studies are needed to prove its effects in ameliorating cartilage injury.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of self-behavior management combined with glucosamine hydrochloride for patients with early knee osteoarthritis. MethodsBetween October 2013 and March 2015, 240 patients with early knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to behavior therapy group (n=80) , drug treatment group (n=80) and combined treatment group (n=80) . Patients in the behavior therapy group were treated only by self-behavior management; patients in the drug treatment group were treated by glucosamine hydrochloride (0.48 g, three times per day); patients in the combined treatment group were treated by self-behavior management combined with glucosamine hydrochloride. The effect of treatment, adverse reactions, efficiency and expulsion rate were assessed 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. ResultsThe Lequesne index and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) significantly decreased from week 4 when compared with week 0 after treatment in the combined treatment group, and there was a significant difference between the combined treatment group and single therapy group at week 8 and 12 (P ＜ 0.05) . The Lequesne index in the behavior therapy group and drug treatment group began to significantly decrease from week 8, and the WOMAC score significantly decreased from week 4 in the drug treatment group and from week 8 in the behavior therapy group. The efficiency increased with the treatment time prolonged in all three groups, but the efficiency in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than the single therapy group (P ＜ 0.05) . The shedding rates in the behavior therapy group, drug treatment group and combined treatment group were respectively 12.5%, 7.5% and 6.3%, without statistically significant difference (P ＞ 0.05) . The adverse reaction rate was low in all the three groups. ConclusionThe self-behavior management combined with glucosamine hydrochloride is an effective, safe and well-tolerated treatment for early knee osteoarthritis.
ObjectiveTo study the clinical effect of the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride with exercise therapy and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress in the treatment of early patellofemoral osteoarthritis. MethodsA total of 126 patients with early patellofemoral osteoarthritis treated between June 2013 and April 2015 were divided into group A (n=43), B (n=42) and C (n=41) with the method of random number table. Oral administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets, exercise therapy of knee joints and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress were applied for the 43 patients in group A. Oral administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets and exercise therapy of knee joints were applied for the 42 patients in group B. Exercise therapy of knee joints and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress were applied for the 41 patients in group C. Chen's Scoring was applied before the treatment and 2, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment. ResultsThe differences of Chen's scores at the time points after treatment and those before treatment of the same group had statistical significance (P<0.05). The differences of Chen's scores at the time points after treatment in group A and those in group B and C had statistical significance (P<0.05). There were no obvious adverse effects due to administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets in group A and B. Five patients in group A and 4 patients in group C suffered from the symptoms of local erythema, light cutaneous pruritus and other contact dermatitis after traditional Chinese medicine hot compress. Those symptoms disappeared automatically several hours later without any special treatment. ConclusionThe treatment of early patellofemoral osteoarthritis by the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets with exercise therapy and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress can rapidly relieve joint pain, and maintain efficacy for a long time.
ObjectiveTo assess the therapeutic effect of arthroscopic microfracture surgery combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride on osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. MethodsBetween January 2014 and June 2015, 24 patients with osteochondritis dissecans of the knee ready to undergo arthroscopic microfracture surgery were divided into experimental group (odd surgery sequence numbers) treated with arthroscopic microfracture surgery combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride (480 mg/time, 3 times per day, from the first day to 3 months after the surgery) and control group (even surgery sequence numbers) treated with arthroscopic microfracture surgery. All the patients were discharged from the hospital after one week of rehabilitation exercises with rehabilitation equipment of lower extremity. Follow-up lasted for at least 6 months. The therapeutic effects of the two methods were assessed according to Tegner scores for motor function of knee joint and United States New York specialty surgical hospital (HSS) scores. ResultsThe symptoms of knee joint was alleviated significantly after the operation. The function of knee joint was improved significantly after 6 weeks. Tegner and HSS scores before surgery were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). The Tegner scores were not significantly different between the two groups 6 weeks after surgery (P>0.05). The difference of Tegner scores were statistically significant between the two groups 12 and 24 weeks after surgery (P<0.05), and HSS scores of the experimental group improved better than the control group 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionThe short-term effect of arthroscopic microfracture surgery combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride is better than that of arthroscopic microfracture surgery in the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee.
ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of electro-acupuncture combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride capsules in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and compare it with the curative effect of the two methods separately. MethodsA total of 168 patients with knee osteoarthritis treated from March 2006 to December 2012 were randomly divided into 3 groups. Electro-acupuncture combined with oral glucosamine hydrochloride capsules were given to the 58 patients in the treatment group, single acupuncture treatment was given to the 57 patients in control group A, and simple oral glucosamine hydrochloride capsules were given to the 53 patients in control group B. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks. Assessment of knee osteoarthritis by Lequesne international standard index number and the total efficiency was carried out before treatment and 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months after treatment, respectively. ResultsThe total effective rate of the treatment group was 91.38%, of control group A was 68.42%, and of control group B was 79.25%. There was a significant difference between the treatment group and control group A, and between the treatment group and control group B (P<0.05). No blood, liver or kidney damage or gastrointestinal adverse reaction occurred among patients in all the three groups. ConclusionThe efficacy of electro-acupuncture plus oral glucosamine hydrochloride capsules is better than simple acupuncture and simple oral glucosamine hydrochloride capsules treatment.