Comparing the Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture with Different Grades of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The electroacupuncture (EA) with different number of points significantly affected its efficacy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and the severity of KOA also influenced its response to treatments. Hence, we prospectively compared the clinical efficacy of EA on KOA with different severities.

METHODS: A total of 132 KOA patients recruited from 181st Central Hospital of The Chinese People's Liberation Army between March 2014 and March 2015 were classified into 4 KOA stages according to Kellgren Lawrence grading scale. They were allocated into three treatment groups, including two-point group, four-point group and six-point group. Patients in the six-point group received treatment at six-points including ST34, SP10, SP9, ST36, ST35 and EX-LE4. Patients in the four-point group received treatment at ST34, SP10, ST35 and EX-LE5, while patients in the two-point group received treatment at ST35 and EX-LE4. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and self-assessment questionnaire of patients were assessed after treatment.

RESULTS: Three kinds of EA treatments all have significant clinical effects on KOA patients with down-regulated scores of VAS and WOMAC. Regarding post-treatment efficacy, the six point group exhibited lower VAS score and higher WOMAC score compared with the other two groups. For patients with different KOA grades, patients with higher KOA grades were associated with lower grade of treatment efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with KOA, especially those with lower KOA stages, could gain beneficial efficacies from EA treatments with two, four and six points, respectively.