The effects of small-needle-knife therapy on pain and mobility from knee osteoarthritis: A pilot randomized controlled study

Objective: To investigate the effect of small needle-knife therapy in people with painful knee osteoarthritis. Design Pilot randomised, controlled trial. Setting. Rehabilitation hospital. Subjects. In-patients with osteo-arthritis of the knee. Interventions: Either 1-3 small needle-knife treatments over 7 days or oral Celecoxib. All patients stayed in hospital three weeks, receiving the same mobility-focused rehabilitation. Measures. Oxford Knee Score (OKS), gait speed and kinematics were recorded at baseline, at 3 weeks (discharge) and at three-months (OKS only). Withdrawal from the study, and adverse events associated with the small needle knife therapy were recorded. Results: 83 patients were randomized: 44 into the control group, of whom 10 were lost by 3 weeks and 12 at 3 months; 39 into the experimental group of whom 8 were lost at 3 weeks and 3 months. The mean (SE) OKS scores at baseline were Control 35.86 ( 1.05), Exp 38.38 ( 0.99); at three weeks 26.64 (0.97) and 21.94 (1.23); and at three months 25.83 (0.91) and 20.48 (1.14) The mean (SE) gait speed at baseline was 1.07 (0.03) m/sec (Control) and 0.98 (0,03), and at three weeks was 1.14 (0.03) and 1.12 (0.03) (p < 0.05). Linear mixed model statistical analysis showed that the improvements in the experimental group were statistically significant for total OKS score at discharge and three months. Conclusions: Small needle-knife therapy added to standard therapy for patients with knee osteoarthritis, was acceptable, safe, and reduced pain and improved global function on the Oxford Knee Score. Further research is warranted.