[Effect of electroacupuncture of quintuple needling combined with adductor relaxation method for osteonecrosis of the femoral head].

Objective: To compare the clinical effects on osteonecrosis of the femoral head between the comprehensive therapy (electroacupuncture ［EA］ of quintuple needling combined with adductor relaxation method) and the adductor relaxation method.

Methods: Eighty patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head were randomly allocated into a treatment group and a control group, with 40 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with the adductor relaxation method. In the treatment group, besides the treatment as the control group, EA of quintuple needling was exerted at the most obvious tender sites (Ashi points) around the hip joint, 30 min each time. The treatment was given once daily, 30 days as one session of treatment, and 3 sessions were required totally in each group. The clinical effects of two groups were evaluated. The score of visual analogue scale (VAS), Harris score and the score of the hip mobility were compared before and after treatment and between the two groups.

Results: The total effective rate was 97.5% (39/40) in the treatment group, higher than 82.5% (33/40) in the control group (<0.05). Compared with before treatment, the VAS score was remarkably decreased (<0.05), while the Harris score and the score of the hip mobility were apparently increased in either group after treatment (<0.05). In comparison between two groups, the VAS score in the treatment group was obviously lower (<0.05) than that of the control group, while the Harris score and the score of the hip mobility were higher than those of the control group (<0.05).

Conclusion: EA of quintuple needling combined with the adductor relaxation method obtains the better clinical effects on ischemic osteonecrosis of the femoral head compared with the simple adductor relaxation method, and this comprehensive therapy obviously relieves the clinical symptoms in patients.