RESUMEN
Objective:To study the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency acupotomy in early and middle-stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:A total of 62 patients with KOA were enrolled and then randomly divided into the radiofrequency acupuncture group and the control group. The two groups were treated with radiofrequency acupotomy and conventional acupotomy under ultrasound guidance, respectively. The treatments were conducted once a week, twice in total. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) of all the patients was evaluated before the treatment as well as the day, 2 weeks, and 1 month after the treatment.Results:Before the treatment, the differences between the two groups in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score, WOMAC function score, and WOMAC total score were not statistically significant (all P>0.05), indicating the two groups were comparable. On the day, 2 weeks, and 1 month after the treatment, the above WOMAC scores of the two groups were lower than those before the treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01). The WOMAC scores of the radiofrequency acupotomy group were lower than those of the control group at the same period, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:For patients with early and middle-stage KOA, ultrasound-guided radiofrequency acupotomy therapy has proven clinical efficacy in relieving pain and improving knee joint function.