Acupotomy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee; A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety acupotomy for treatment patients with knee osteoarthritis. There were 9 databases searched retrieve randomized controlled trials until August 3, 2019 regarding versus conventional Western medicine, medicine without acupotomy, Korean meta-analysis performed. Of 303 potentially relevant studies retrieved, 43 systematically reviewed. All conducted in China. Effective rate, visual analogue scale, Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index used as evaluation scales. Ashi point selected most frequently. In all studies, intervention group more effective than control group. Meta-analysis revealed that showed statistically significant beneficial results. Although had a effect on osteoarthritis, risk bias included not low. majority results from scales highly heterogeneous (> 50%) which reduced confidence estimation effect, or small sample size. Further clinical research development is required future.