ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effects of modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) fumigation on joint function and inflammatory mediators in synovial fluid of patients with knee osteoarthritis.Methods:A total of 203 patients with knee osteoarthritis who met the inclusion criteria between March 2020 and March 2021 in the hospital were divided into observation group (102 cases) and control group (101 cases) according to the random number table method. The control group was given oral administration of celecoxib capsules + TCM fumigation, and the observation group was given modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 3 months. TCM symptoms were scored before and after treatment, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores (JOA) was used to evaluate the knee function. Immunoturbidimetry was adopted to detect serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and ELISA was used for the detection of levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in synovial fluid, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate was 90.2% (92/102) in observation group and was 79.2% (80/101) in control group ( χ2=4.74, P=0.030). The JOA scores at 1 month and 3 months after treatment in observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=3.17, 7.74, all Ps<0.01). The scores of cold and painful knee joint, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, joint swelling and inhibited bending and stretching were significantly in the observation group after treatment lower than those in the control group ( t=7.61, 10.81, 6.62, 8.77, all Ps<0.001). The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in synovial fluid and level of serum hs-CRP were significantly in the observation group after treatment lower than those in the control group ( t=7.97, 9.52, 9.56, all Ps<0.001). During treatment, the incidence rate of adverse reactions was 32.7% (33/101) in control group and that of observation group was 19.6% (20/102) ( χ2=4.49, P=0.034). Conclusion:Modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction combined with TCM fumigation can improve the clinical symptoms and knee function, relieve the inflammatory response and enhance the clinical efficacy of patients with knee osteoarthritis.