To study the efficacy of Tongfeng Qingjie Decoction and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)ointment for external use combined with western medicine in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis.Methods:A total of 100 patients with acute gouty arthritis treated in the Shantou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2015 to May 2018 were selected as research objects, and divided into a control group and an experimental group according to random number table method, with 50 patients in each group.The group treated by western medicine was regarded as the control group.On the basis of the routine treatment of western medicine, the experimental group was additionally treated with oral Tongfeng Qingjie Decoction orally and Zhitong Xiaoyan Ointment combined with Honglou Ointment for external use.Symptom score and laboratory indexes were analyzed retrospectively and compared.Results:After the treatment,(1)the symptom score in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group, with statistical significance(P<0.05);(2)in the experimental group, the blood uric acid(UA)was(398.56±100.59)μmol/L, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)was(13.22±8.19)mm/h, which were lower than(424.92±100.97)μmol/L and(20.20±10.33)mm/h in the control group respectively, with statistical significance(P<0.05);(3)in the experimental group, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)were lower than those in the control group, with statistical significance(P<0.05).Conclusion:Tongfeng Qingjie Decoction and TCM ointment combined with western medicine can reduce symptom score and improve UA, ESR, TNF-α and IL-1β in patients with acute gouty arthritis, which is worthy of promotion.