Synergistic effects of Xianlinggubao, vitamin D and alendronate sodium on pain relief, bone metabolism and prosthesis stability in post-hip arthroplasty patients

This study investigated the combined effects of Xianlinggubao, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with vitamin D and alendronate sodium on pain management, bone metabolic health, and prosthetic survival in patients post-hip arthroplasty. A total of 104 patients were randomly assigned into treatment group, which additionally received Xianlinggubao and control group, which received standard postoperative care along with vitamin D and alendronate. Key outcomes, including Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, Harris hip scores and bone metabolism markers, were evaluated over six months. The Xianlinggubao group showed significant improvement in hip function and pain reduction, evidenced by higher Harris hip scores and lower VAS and TCM syndrome scores. Bone metabolism indicators such as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin were elevated, while markers of bone resorption decreased more significantly in the treatment group. These findings suggested that Xianlinggubao, when combined with vitamin D and alendronate sodium, offered a complementary therapeutic approach to enhance recovery outcomes in hip arthroplasty patients by improving bone metabolism, reducing pain and supporting prosthetic stability. Further research with larger cohorts was recommended to confirm these benefits.