Wirksamkeit der akupunkturbehandlung bei osteoarthrose. Ergebnisse einer randomisierten kontrollierten studie

Acupuncture is widely used by patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, although its effectiveness is unclear. We investigated the efficacy of acupuncture in patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients were randomised to treatment with acupuncture, minimal acupuncture (superficial needling at non-acupuncture points), or to a waiting list control. Acupuncture and minimal acupuncture consisted of 12 sessions per patient over 8 weeks. Patients completed standardised questionnaires at baseline and 8, 26 and 52 weeks after randomisation. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index at the end of week 8 (adjusted for baseline score). A total of 294 patients were included in the study. The mean baseline-adjusted WOMAC index at week 8 was 26.9 (Standard error: 1.4) in the acupuncture group, 35.8 (1.9) in the minimal acupuncture group, and 49.6 (2.0) in the waiting list group (treatment difference acupuncture vs. minimal acupuncture: p=0.0002; acupuncture vs. waiting list: p < 0.0002). However, after 26 and after 52 weeks there was no signficant difference between the acupuncture and the minimal acupuncture group. In patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, acupuncture treatment was superior in improving pain and joint function compared to minimal acupuncture and to no acupuncture treatment. Therefore, acupuncture should be considered as a therapeutic option in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.