Objective To compare the clinical effects on osteonecrosis of the femoral head between the comprehensive therapy(electroacupuncture [EA] of quintuple needling combined with adductor relaxation method) and the adductor relaxation method. Methods Eighty patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head were randomly allocated into a treatment group and a control group

with 40 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with the adductor relaxation method. In the treatment group

besides the treatment as the control group

EA of quintuple needling was exerted at the most obvious tender sites(Ashi points) around the hip joint

30 min each time. The treatment was given once daily

30 days as one session of treatment

and 3 sessions were required totally in each group. The clinical effects of two groups were evaluated. The score of visual analogue scale(VAS)

Harris score and the score of the hip mobility were compared before and after treatment and between the two groups. Results The total effective rate was 97.5%(39/40) in the treatment group

higher than 82.5%(33/40) in the control group(P<0.05). Compared with before treatment

the VAS score was remarkably decreased(P<0.05)

while the Harris score and the score of the hip mobility were apparently increased in either group after treatment(P<0.05). In comparison between two groups

the VAS score in the treatment group was obviously lower(P<0.05) than that of the control group

while the Harris score and the score of the hip mobility were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion EA of quintuple needling combined with the adductor relaxation method obtains the better clinical effects on ischemic osteonecrosis of the femoral head compared with the simple adductor relaxation method

and this comprehensive therapy obviously relieves the clinical symptoms in patients.