Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up

Tran Thi Thu Ngoc Vo

Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up

Abstract

Introduction: Refractory knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic degenerative joint disorder characterized by persistent pain, functional limitation, and poor response to conventional therapies. Integrative approaches combining acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal medicine are increasingly used, but standardized clinical evaluations remain limited. To evaluate the clinical efficacy and long-term outcomes of syndrome-differentiated acupuncture combined with herbal medicine in patients with refractory KOA. Materials and Methods: In this prospective clinical study, 35 patients (46 knees) with refractory KOA were enrolled and classified into three traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome groups: wind-cold-dampness (n = 21 knees), qi stagnation and blood stasis (n = 14 knees), and liver–kidney deficiency (n = 11 knees). Patients received individualized treatment consisting of herbal decoctions combined with acupuncture-based interventions (warm acupuncture, electroacupuncture with cupping, or aconite cake moxibustion). Each patient completed two treatment courses. Outcomes included joint pain score, swelling score, functional score, knee circumference measurement, and a validated quantitative symptom and sign grading scale. Assessments were performed before treatment, after treatment, and at 6-month follow-up. Statistical analysis was conducted using paired t-tests and χ² tests. Results: After two treatment courses, all three groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain, joint swelling, joint function, knee circumference, and overall symptom scores compared with baseline (P < 0.05). The overall markedly effective rate was 76.09% after treatment. At 6-month follow-up, clinical efficacy further improved, with a markedly effective rate of 91.30%, and no significant difference was observed between post-treatment and follow-up symptom scores (P > 0.05), indicating sustained therapeutic benefit. No serious treatment-related adverse events were observed, and no patients required treatment discontinuation during the study period. Conclusion: Syndrome-differentiated acupuncture combined with herbal medicine appears to be a safe and effective treatment for refractory KOA, providing significant symptom relief and sustained functional improvement over 6 months. These findings support the potential role of integrative therapy in the management of refractory KOA. Larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these results.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Treatments

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Tran Thi Thu Ngoc Vo ^*
0009-0005-6243-3041
China

Publication Date

June 14, 2026

Submission Date

April 23, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 2 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Vo, T. T. T. N. (2026). Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2(2), 52-64. https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE

AMA

1.Vo TTTN. Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2026;2(2):52-64. https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE

Chicago

Vo, Tran Thi Thu Ngoc. 2026. “Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined With Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up”. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences 2 (2): 52-64. https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE.

EndNote

Vo TTTN (June 1, 2026) Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences 2 2 52–64.

IEEE

[1]T. T. T. N. Vo, “Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up”, Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 52–64, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE

ISNAD

Vo, Tran Thi Thu Ngoc. “Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined With Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up”. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences 2/2 (June 1, 2026): 52-64. https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE.

JAMA

1.Vo TTTN. Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2026;2:52–64.

MLA

Vo, Tran Thi Thu Ngoc. “Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined With Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up”. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 52-64, https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE.

Vancouver

1.Tran Thi Thu Ngoc Vo. Syndrome-Differentiated Acupuncture Combined with Herbal Medicine for Refractory Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Clinical Study With 6-Month Follow-Up. Anatolian Journal of Medical Sciences [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;2(2):52-64. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA38KG35XE