OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference between fire acupuncture with centro-square needles (FACSN) and filiform needling (FN) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomly assigned into an FACSN group and an FN group, 36 cases in each one.points, Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were selected in the two groups. The FACSN group was treated with FACSN, and three acupoints were selected for each treatment; the FN group was treated with FN, and all the acupoints were selected for each treatment. The cupping treatment was given after acupuncture in the two groups. The treatment was given once every other day, without treatment on Sundays. The treatment was given three times a week, 6 times as one course; totally 2 courses were provided. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) were observed in the two groups before treatment, two weeks, four weeks into treatment and at one-month follow-up visit. In addition, the comprehensive efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared before treatment, the score of VAS and the total score of WOMAC were improved in the two groups at each time point after treatment (all<0.01); the scores of VAS at each time point after treatment in FACSN group were lower than those in the FN group (all<0.05); four weeks into treatment and at one-month follow-up visit, the total score of WOMAC in the FACSN group was lower than that in the FN group (both<0.05). Two weeks into treatment, the total effective rate was 88.9% (32/36) in the FACSN group, which was higher than 61.1% (22/36) in the FN group (<0.01); four weeks into treatment and at one-month follow-up visit, the cured and remarkable effective rates were 66.7% (24/36) and 83.3% (30/36) in the FACSN group, which were higher than 41.7% (15/36) and 44.4% (16/36) in the FN group (<0.05,<0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSFire acupuncture with centro-square needles has relatively high cured and remarkable effective rate for KOA, with rapid onset; as for pain relief, the efficacy is superior to filiform needling.