The study comparing intramuscular calcitonin with oral celecoxib in 123 knee BML patients depicted that intramuscular calcitonin 50 IU once daily illustrated a better short-term effect in comparison with oral celecoxib 200 mg twice per day. 

The retrospective study aimed to compare the short-term clinical effect of intramuscular calcitonin with oral celecoxib in treating patients with knee BMLs.

The medical records of patients with knee BMLs treated by intramuscular calcitonin or oral celecoxib were reviewed between January 2016 and December 2018. The study recruited 123 patients. Participants were randomized to receive calcitonin treatment (n = 66) or celecoxib treatment (n = 57). For 3 months, all the subjects were followed up radiographically and clinically. 

To assess knee pain and function, VAS (Visual analog scale) and the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index) were respectively used. BMLs were assessed by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans and were scored by the modified WORMS (Whole-Organ MRI Score). The safety assessment of these two medications was also done.

In the calcitonin group, the VAS and WOMAC scores were lower statistically than celecoxib group at 4-week and 3-month follow-up. The comparison of clinical outcomes between the two groups is depicted in the following table:

For BMLs, the WORMS scores in the calcitonin group were remarkably lower than the celecoxib group. The BMLs scores changed between the two groups are depicted in the following table:

Furthermore, statistically higher MRI improvement rates were found in the calcitonin group compared with the celecoxib group at 4-week follow-up (21.21% vs. 7.01%) and 3-month follow-up (37.88% vs. 15.79%). The percentage of patients with improved BMLs is depicted in the following table:

Compared with celecoxib, intramuscular calcitonin provides a greater short-term clinical efficacy in the treatment of knee BMLs patients.