Table 1 The characteristics of included studies
Study | N (intervention/ control) | Indication | Age, mean (SD), years | Sex (Male/Female) | Disease duration, mean (SD), months | Severity | Treatment duration | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cheng 2014 | 30/29 | KOA | 60.0 (5.0) | 28/31 | 50.5 (11.7) | NR | 44d (30d + two 1w rest in between 3 treatment cycles) | 1w |
Deng_Chen 2020 | 35/37 for efficacy outcomes, 38/38 for safety outcome | KOA of cold-dampness type | 60.1 (7.7) | 30/42 (sex information was missing for 4 patients) | 58.8 (17.2) | Kellgren-Lawrence grade 0-III | 30d (28d + 2d of rest in between) | 1 m |
Deng_Sheng 2020 | 35/33 for efficacy outcomes, 36/36 for safety outcome | KOA of cold-damp type | 52.9 (8.5) | 35/37 | 49.2 (17.4) | NR | 30d (28d + 2d of rest in between) | 4 m |
Ding 2009 | 30/30 | KOA | 55.7 (14.6) | 17/43 | 56.2 (46.6) | VAS score of 7Â cm or lower | 2w | 10w |
Gao 2012 | 35/34 | KOA of kidney deficiency and marrow insufficiency pattern/syndrome | 58.2 (8.8) | 28/41 | 38.1 (11.4) | NR | 4w, 8w | NA |
Li CD 2006 | 56/54 | KOA of kidney-yang deficiency and cold syndrome | 59.4 (5.2) | 65/55 | NR | VAS pain score 4 or greater, Lequesne Index of 6 or higher | 7d, 15d (14d + 1d of rest in between 2 cycles) | NA |
Li Q 2008 | 30/30 (54/50 knees) | KOA of Yang-deficiency pattern | 64.1 (5.6) | 16/44 | 105.6 (86.4) | Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-IV | 10d | 1Â m |
Lü JJ 2018 | 30/28 | KOA of Yang-deficiency pattern | 53.0 (8.5) | 33/25 | 18.9 (5.0) | NR | 22d (20d + 2d of rest in between) | 1 m |
Lü N 2022 | 48/48 | KOA | 63.9 (11.0) | 40/56 | 79.2 (21.8) | Kellgren-Lawrence grade I-III | 4w | NA |
Mei 2011 | 68/69 | KOA | 60.9 (6.9) | 48/89 | 20.5 (5.3) | NR | 42d (20*2 + 2; once every other day 10 times, over 2 courses of treatment with a 2-day interval between courses) | 2w |
Wang JG 2007 | 40/40 | KOA | 59.4 (5.3) | 37/43 | Value NR, shorter than 120 months as one of the inclusion criteria | NR | 20d, 43d (40d + 3d of rest in between of 2 cycles) | NA |
Wang XL 2017 | 25/21 | KOA | 59.6 (6.6) | 10/36 | range, 24 to 360Â months | Kellgren-Lawrence grade II or greater, and VAS score of 3Â cm or greater | 3w | NA |
Xiong 2011 | 30/30 | KOA | 55.3 (8.6) | 13/47 | 0.9 (0.4) | NR | 20d | NA |
Xu 2013 | 80/80 | KOA | 58.0 (13.8) | 82/78 | 56.5 (44.6) | Kellgren-Lawrence grade I-III, and VAS score of 70Â mm or lower | 5w | 3Â m, 6Â m |
Zhang HJ 2016 | 40/10 | KOA with cold-damp stagnation | 50.5 (10.5) | 47/33 | 27.6 (15.8) | NR | 20d | 6Â m but only for recurrence rate |
Zhang QR 2010 | 32/30 | KOA | 59.7 (6.9) | 31/31 | 54.0 (42.7) | NR | 22d (20d + 2d of rest in between) | NA |
Zheng 2017 | 30/30 | KOA with yang-deficiency and cold-stagnation syndrome | 53.0 (10.5) | 31/29 | 14.3 (5.7) | NR | 22d (20d + 2d of rest in between) | NA |
Zhu 2010 | 62/62 | KOA of cold-damp type | 53.4 (2.8) | 48/76 | 66.0 (45.5) | NR | 4w | 10w |