University of Copenhagen publishes first double-blind, randomised controlled trial of gold implantation in humans
For humans with knee osteoarthritis (OA) a promising pain-relieving therapy mobilising the joint now also seems to be underway. In 2008, a Danish team of researchers at Copenhagen University published a 1-year pilot study. The results permit the strong supposition that inserting gold implants around the joint at acupuncture points is a successful method of treatment for patients with OA. “The new treatment should continue to be tested in a larger trial”, says the Danish team of researchers.
43 test persons aged from 18 to 80 years participated in the first double-blind, randomised, controlled trial on gold implantation in Denmark. Prerequisite was a detected knee OA. Three test persons dropped out within the first month. 21 received gold implants by means of a hypodermic needle at five acupuncture points near the knee joint; in case of the remaining 19 test persons the intervention was just simulated by needle pricks.
During the test phase, the subjective experience of pain, the stiffness and the function of the knee were tested six times. Knee score and knee function were determined after six and twelve months by an orthopaedic surgeon.
Conclusions:
Test subjects who had initially responded positively to conventional acupuncture, exhibited relative improvements in both groups: 15 out of 21 test subjects who had obtained gold implants displayed greater improvements in the subjective assessments than the 17 out of 19 test subjects without gold implants.
The recommendation from Denmark is:
In a further, larger trial, only test persons should participate who already responded to an initial conventional acupuncture beforehand.
Proceed to study ...
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