A Systematic Review on Thread Embedding Therapy of Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objectives : This study was performed to review the efficacy of national and international randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating evidence on thread embedding therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Methods : Online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, NDSL, OASIS, CNKI) were searched for studies where thread embedding therapy was performed for Knee Osteoarthritis from their inception to July 2018. Two researchers independently performed the search. Only RCTs were selected. Eligible studies were selected first by the abstract and the title and then included after full-texts were read. Risk of bias of the included studies were evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Data were narratively summarized. Results : There were 334 studies retrieved from the databases, resulting in analysis of 3 RCTs. There was an average of 1.5 treatment visits over a 7 day period and evaluation tool used was efficacy rate, with traditional acupuncture being the most common control used in the trials. Statistically significant improvement by thread embedding therapy was reported. None of the included RCTs reported on adverse reactions. The risk of bias of the included studies was generally unclear. Conclusion : The review suggests that thread embedding therapy can be effective in knee osteoarthritis. But there was a lack of detailed information about the treatment procedures, and the risk of bias was unclear. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence for thread embedding therapy for knee osteoarthritis

Thread Embedded Acupuncture for Non-Specific Posterior Neck Pain: A PRISMA-Compliant Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…It is a special method of treatment involving acupuncture, in which polydioxanone is injected into the subcutaneous or muscle layer at specific acupoints, which provides longlasting pain control effect compared to dry needling. 11,12 The pain control mechanism of TEA is medicated via the Sig-1R receptor and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or spinal serotonin 1A receptor, and the GluN1 subunit of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDA). As TEA inhibits MAPK p38 in the spinal cord, it can also alleviate pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant's inflammatory reaction.…”

Effectiveness and safety of polydioxanone thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) and electroacupuncture (EA) treatment for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with postoperative pain

“…Table 2 [ 1 , 18 , 23 – 26 ] and Table 3 [ 1 , 22 , 27 , 28 ] summarize of the details of TEA and EA treatments. The subjects in the (TEA + EA + Usual care) group will receive the combined treatment consisting of TEA once a week and EA twice a week for 4 weeks while continuing usual care.…”

“…[ 1 ] TEA is used for neck pain, [ 14 ] low back pain, [ 15 ] shoulder pain, [ 16 ] and for sequelae of facial paralysis. [ 17 ] A systematic literature review on TEA for degenerative KOA [ 18 ] included 3 randomized controlled trials published in China, and all 3 studies showed significant therapeutic effects in the intervention group that received TEA. EA involves the application of electrical stimulation along with acupuncture stimulation, and is widely used in clinical practice to relieve acute or chronic pain.…”

Appraising the safety and reporting quality of thread-embedding acupuncture: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Open access intervertebral disc and osteoarthritis and internal diseases such as abdominal obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. [9][10][11][12][13] Acupuncture has generally been known as a safe treatment method with minimal risk of adverse events (AEs) to patients. The York Acupuncture Safety Study conducted in 2001 analysed 34 407 cases of the acupuncture treatment.…”