Effect of the Zushima patch combined with celecoxib on pain and inflammatory factor expression in knee osteoarthritis with cold‐dampness obstruction

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that frequently occurs in middle‐aged and older individuals. Although celecoxib is a commonly used drug for the treatment of KOA, its efficacy and safety have limitations. Zushima, a traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used for treating joint pain and has anti‐inflammatory and analgesic properties. This study aims to explore the effect of the Zushima patch combined with celecoxib on pain and inflammatory factor expression in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients with cold‐dampness obstruction. Methods A total of 100 patients with KOA of cold‐dampness obstruction were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n = 50) and a control group ( n = 50). Patients in the control group received oral administration of celecoxib capsules, whereas the treatment group received the Zushima patch combined with oral administration of celecoxib capsules. Then, the efficacy and safety were compared, together with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, pain, and knee joint function. We also determined the concentrations of osteoprotegerin (OPG), insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐1), osteocalcin (OC), and inflammatory factors such as interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Finally, the safety between the two groups was compared. Results The total effective rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group. After treatment, the levels of the TCM syndrome score, pain score, IL‐1, IL‐6, and CRP in the treatment group showed significant decreases compared with those in the control group, while the scores of OPG, IGF‐1, OC, and knee joint function in the treatment group showed significant increases compared with those in the control group. There was no significant difference in adverse events between the two groups. Conclusions The Zushima patch combined with celecoxib could relieve the pain of KOA with cold‐dampness obstruction and improve knee joint function. These effects may be the result of the downregulation of inflammatory factors and the regulation of joint fluid‐related indices.