ObjectiveTo study the clinical effect of the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride with exercise therapy and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress in the treatment of early patellofemoral osteoarthritis. MethodsA total of 126 patients with early patellofemoral osteoarthritis treated between June 2013 and April 2015 were divided into group A (n=43), B (n=42) and C (n=41) with the method of random number table. Oral administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets, exercise therapy of knee joints and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress were applied for the 43 patients in group A. Oral administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets and exercise therapy of knee joints were applied for the 42 patients in group B. Exercise therapy of knee joints and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress were applied for the 41 patients in group C. Chen's Scoring was applied before the treatment and 2, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment. ResultsThe differences of Chen's scores at the time points after treatment and those before treatment of the same group had statistical significance (P<0.05). The differences of Chen's scores at the time points after treatment in group A and those in group B and C had statistical significance (P<0.05). There were no obvious adverse effects due to administration of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets in group A and B. Five patients in group A and 4 patients in group C suffered from the symptoms of local erythema, light cutaneous pruritus and other contact dermatitis after traditional Chinese medicine hot compress. Those symptoms disappeared automatically several hours later without any special treatment. ConclusionThe treatment of early patellofemoral osteoarthritis by the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride tablets with exercise therapy and traditional Chinese medicine hot compress can rapidly relieve joint pain, and maintain efficacy for a long time.
Objective To summarize the current research progress about influence of patellofemoral osteoarthritis on clinical outcome of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Methods The recent related literature was extensively reviewed and summarized, including pros and cons to regard the patellofemoral osteoarthritis as the contraindication. Results Previous studies regarded patellofemoral osteoarthritis as the contraindication of UKA. Most of current researches show that the damage to the articular cartilage of the patellofemoral joint to the extent of full-thickness cartilage loss has no influence on outcome of UKA. There is no correlation between preoperative anterior knee pain or medial patellofemoral joint degeneration and the clinical outcome. However, lateral subluxation of the patella has an adverse impact on postoperative curative effect. Degeneration of the lateral patellofemoral joint may be a risk factor of the outcome. Conclusion Patellofemoral osteoarthritis should not be the absolute contraindication of UKA. The effect of degeneration of the lateral patellofemoral joint is not clear at present, and still needs further studies in the future.