Effects of Acupuncture in the treatment of hip pain caused by Osteoarthritis

INTERVENTION: E02.197 E02.831.535 MT3.575.741 This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, 3‐arm, double‐blind (evaluator and patient) clinical trial. Real Acupuncture Group: 13 patients diagnosed with Osteoarthritis of the Hip will undergo 10 acupuncture sessions with penetrating needling with deep insertion of the needles until the sensation of "qi" in 6 points: GB29, GB30, GB34, GB36, B62, TA5, lasting 20 minutes, twice a week. Simulated Acupuncture Group (Placebo): 13 patients diagnosed with Osteoarthritis of the Hip will undergo 10 sessions of sham acupuncture with non‐penetrating needling with Streitberger needles (placebo needles), at points at least 20 cm from the hip, not recognized as acupuncture points by Traditional Chinese Medicine, lasting 20 minutes, twice a week. Conventional Treatment Group: 13 patients diagnosed with Hip Osteoarthritis will undergo standard treatment at the Rehabilitation Center of the Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto, which consists of 10 physiotherapy sessions, twice a week, for 5 weeks, and behavioral and exercise guidelines at home. All patients will be randomized according to a randomized block list of 6 subjects previously prepared by the www.radomization.com website. Patients in the Real Acupuncture and Simulated Acupuncture groups will be accommodated in individual rooms, on stretchers, in the lateral horizontal decubitus position on the unaffected side. They will have the vision of the body blindfolded by a surgical drape positioned vertically at the height of the neck. CONDITION: C23.550.291.500 Osteoarthritis; hip; Chronic Pain PRIMARY OUTCOME: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment compared with sham acupuncture or conventional treatment for analgesia and improved quality of life in patients with severe hip osteoarthritis and failure of conservative treatment. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Compare the response of patients undergoing acupuncture and sham acupuncture to reduce pain measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and to improve quality of life and functionality using the WOMAC questionnaire and the 10‐meter walk test. Evaluate changes in the frequency in the use of analgesic medications and socioeconomic implications, verified by questionnaires applied to patients. Evaluate possible side effects caused by acupuncture, verified by questionnaires applied to patients. Protocol acupuncture points for analgesia for hip osteoarthritis, to standardize future studies. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Be over 18 years old; Man or woman; Unilateral diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis according to clinical criteria; Kellgren‐Lawrence grade 3 or 4 radiological classification; Failure in conservative treatment consisting of: exercises, pharmacological therapies such as analgesics or anti‐inflammatory drugs, use of gait aids or no improvement when performing trigger point blocks; Pain assessed by Visual Analogue Scale greater than four; Previously not treated with acupuncture.