OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of arthroscopy and manipulation of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of patellofemoral joint disease.

METHODSThe patients met with the criteria of patellofemoral joint disease were divided into manipulation of TCM group and arthroscopy group randomly, 31 patients in each group. There were 31 patients in manipulation of TCM group, including 4 males and 27 females, with an average age of (52.83 +/- 5.79) years old; and the patients were treated with manipulation. There were 31 patients in arthroscopy group, including 8 males and 23 females, with an average age of (54.14 +/- 6.12) years old; the patients were treated with arthroscopy. The HSS knee joint score, fitness angle of patellofemoral joint and lateral angle of patellofemoral joint in X-ray were compared in each group and between the two groups before and after treatment respectively.

RESULTSThe two therapeutics had equally efficacious in which improved HSS score significantly. After treatment, the HSS scores in manipulation of TCM group and arthroscopy group were 94.80 +/- 7.26 and 88.65 +/- 5.79 separately, the score in manipulation of TCM group was higher than that of arthroscopy group. Comparing with the arthroscopy group, lateral angle of patellofemoral joint with weight-hearing position were improved significantly in manipulation of TCM group.

CONCLUSIONArthroscopy and manipulation of TCM have equally efficacious in the treatment of patellofemoral joint disease, but manipulation has advantage of minimal trauma, and is better to treat patella extraversion.