Objective  

To evaluate the effects of 650 nm - 10.6 μm combined laser in patients with knee Osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine whether the combined laser provides greater pain relief and improved function compared with red light.

Methods  

Forty-eight patients with knee OA were randomly allocated to two groups (24 per group), receiving 20 min irradiation with 650 nm - 10.6 μm combined laser or red light emitting diode respectively on point Dubi (ST 35) 3 times a week for the first course (2 weeks) and twice a week for the second one (4 weeks). The main outcome measures were WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) scores. In addition, patients’ global assessment, adverse effects and validation of patient blinding were analyzed.

Results  

All the patients completed the first course, but 12 were lost during the second one. Due to the high dropout rate by the second course, only the data acquired from the first course could be analyzed. No differences of general data of patients and WOMAC scores were found in between-group comparison before treatment (P>0.05). The WOMAC scores of patients in both combined laser group and red light group reduced significantly compared to baseline by the end of the first course (P<0.01). There were no significant differences on the reduction rate of WOMAC scores between two groups (P>0.05). Neither the patients’ global assessment nor the dropout rate showed statistical differences between two groups (P>0.05). There was no difference between two groups in patients correctly guessing the treatment assignment (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the reduction rate of WOMAC scores and the patients’ global assessment between patients who guessed their assignment (P>0.05). Conclusion: Both combined laser and red light irradiation are beneficial to patients with knee OA. But as the statistical indifferences between two groups, the authors can’t conclude from this study whether the combined laser is more effective.

目的  

观察650 nm - 10.6 μm复合激光治疗膝骨关节炎患者的有效性以及与红光照射相比, 在减轻疼痛和改善关节功能方面是否具有更好疗效。

方法  

48 名膝骨关节炎患者被随机分到两组(每组24 人), 分别接受 650 nm - 10.6 μm 复合激光或红光照射犊鼻穴, 每次治疗20 min, 第一疗程(共2 星期)每星期治疗3 次, 第二疗程(共4 星期)每星期治疗2 次。 主要结果采用McMaster大学关节炎量表(Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, WOMAC)进行打分。 并对患者关于疗效的自评、 治疗的副作用及盲法的有效性进行统计分析。

结果  

所有患者均完成了第一疗程, 但有12 名患者在第二疗程脱落。 由于第二疗程的脱落率较高, 故只对第一疗程的数据进行分析。 治疗前, 两组患者一般情况及WOMAC得分无显著性差异(P>0.05)。 治疗后, 复合激光组及红光照射组患者WOMAC得分与基线期相比均有显著降低(P<0.01)。 两组患者WOMAC得分改善率比较无显著性差异(P>0.05)。 两组患者对疗效的自评及脱落率比较均无统计 学差异(P>0.05)。 两组患者对自己所属分组的猜测无统计学差异(P>0.05), 且两组患者对自己所属分组的猜测未对其WOMAC得分改善率及对疗效的自评产生影响(P>0.05)。

结论  

复合激光和红光照射犊鼻穴对膝骨关节炎患者均有疗效, 需扩大样本量, 控制脱落率, 以进一步观察两者的差异。