Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Western Medicine for Knee Osteoarthritis:An Observation of 38 Cases

【Objective】To observe the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine and western medicine for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis(KOA).【Methods】Seventy-four KOA patients were randomized into groups A(n=38)and B(n=36).Group B received rectal suppository of indomethacin and intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate,and group A was additionally treated with oral use of Bushen Huoxie Decoction(mainly composed of Radix Rehmanniae Preparata,Rhizoma Drynariae,Rhizoma Chuanxiong,Radix Angelicae Sinensis,Fructus Chaenomelis,Radix Angelicae Pubescentis,Radix Dipsaci,Cortex Cinnamomi,Caulis Spatholobi,Cortex Eucommiae,Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae,etc.).After treatment,the therapeutic effect in the two groups was evaluated and the adverse actions were observed.【Results】In group B,20 patients were cured,8 effective,8 ineffective and the total effective rate was 77.8%;in group A,30 patients were cured,6 effective,2 ineffective and the total effective rate was 94.7%;the difference of total effective rate was significant between groups A and B (P0.05).Articular swelling was found in 2 patients of group B after injection of sodium hyaluronate,and it was relieved after taking a rest.There was no other adverse action in the two groups.【Conclusion】The combination of Chinese herbal medicine and western medicine is effective for KOA.