Effect of Qufeng Zhitong capsules supplemented with etocoxib tablets in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and its effect on gait characteristics and inflammatory factors

Abstract

Objective The effect of Qufeng Zhitong capsules supplemented with etocoxib tablets in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and its effect on gait characteristics and inflammatory factors were evaluated in this research. Methods A total of 112 patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted to our hospital from April 2019 to January 2022 were selected and randomly divided into observation group (n=56) and control group (n=56). Patients in the control group were treated with etocoxib tablets, and patients in the observation group were treated with Qufeng Zhitong capsules on the basis of the control group. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) scale scores, gait characteristics, and inflammatory cytokines expression were compared between the two groups after treatment. Results The knee joint WOMAC scale scores of patients in the two groups were markedly lower than those before treatment, and those in observation group were apparently lower than those in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the stride length and pace of patients in the two groups were significantly enhanced, and those in observation group were markedly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and MMP-3 in the two groups were explicitly decreased, and the levels in observation group were obviously lower than those in control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Qufeng Zhitong capsules supplemented with etocoxib tablets can improve the clinical symptoms of patients with knee osteoarthritis, promote step speed and step length and reduce the inflammatory response of patients, with relative safety.