Acupotomy for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review protocol.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent condition causing significant pain, disability, and increased healthcare costs in seniors.
• Acupotomy is a common treatment for KOA, but its effectiveness and safety require rigorous scientific evaluation.
• A comprehensive systematic review is needed to assess the efficacy and safety of acupotomy for KOA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupotomy as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
• To synthesize existing evidence regarding acupotomy's impact on pain, stiffness, joint function, and quality of life in KOA patients.
• To identify and assess any adverse events associated with acupotomy therapy for KOA.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases.
• Studies were selected and data were independently collected by two researchers.
• Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Main Results:

• The systematic review will synthesize evidence on acupotomy's effects on knee joint pain, stiffness, and dysfunction.
• The review will also assess the impact of acupotomy on patients' quality of life.
• Data on adverse events associated with acupotomy treatment for KOA will be compiled and analyzed.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review will provide high-quality evidence on the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy for knee osteoarthritis.
• The findings will inform clinical practice and guide treatment decisions for KOA patients considering acupotomy.
• Further research may be indicated based on the synthesized evidence.