To explore the effects of acupotomy loosing treatment on inflammatory factors and oxygen free radicals in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with elbow joint stiffness.Methods:A total of 72 RA patients with elbow join stiffness treated in Longgang Central Hospital from February 2016 to March 2018 were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group according to envelope method,with 36 patients in each group.The control group received conventional western medicine combined with acupuncture,and the observation group received conventional western medicine combined with acupotomy loosing treatment.The inflammatory factors,oxygen free radicals,blood sedimentation,rheumatoid factors and range of elbow joint were compared between the 2 groups.Results:After treatment,the serum levels of IL-6,TNF-α,MDA,ESR and RF all declined,while the levels of SOD rose in the 2 groups,and the changes in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05).The maximum angle of elbow extension decreased,the maximum angle of flexion and the range of motion increased in the 2 groups,and the improvement of elbow function in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Compared with acupuncture,acupotomy loosing treatment combined with conventional western medicine can effectively suppress inflammation and oxygen free radical reaction,reduce the level of RF,and promote the recovery of joint function in RA patients with elbow join stiffness,with better clinical efficacy.