Controversy: Hirudotherapy (Leech Therapy) as an Alternative Treatment for Osteoarthritis

Authors

  • Felicia Gunawan Faculty of Medicine Universitas Atma Jaya, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Yossico R Wibowo Faculty of Medicine Universitas Atma Jaya, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Nur C Bunawan Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Jesse H Turner Department of General Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease found in the elderly. Drug options that are recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon (AAOS) are acetaminophen, NSAIDs, tramadol, capscaicin and intraarticular corticosteroids. However, there is concern for the possible side effects resulting from long term use of those medications. Researchers are searching for a safer treatment modality for OA. Leech therapy (hirudotheraphy) is one of the therapies under investigation, given its purported analgesic and antiinflammatory properties. Key words: osteoarthritis, hirudotherapy, leech therapy, NSAIDSs, elderly, alternative terapy.

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How to Cite

1.
Gunawan F, Wibowo YR, Bunawan NC, Turner JH. Controversy: Hirudotherapy (Leech Therapy) as an Alternative Treatment for Osteoarthritis. Acta Med Indones [Internet]. 2016May12 [cited 2026Nov.7];47(2). Available from: https://www.actamedindones.org/index.php/ijim/article/view/55

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 2 (2015)

Section

CLINICAL PRACTICE

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