OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of celecoxib in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and its effects on patin degree. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases of knee osteoarthritis were selected from our hospital during Jan. 2014 to Jan. 2016, and then divided into control group and observation group according to therapy plan, with 60 cases in each group. Control group was given Ibuprofen sustained-release capsule 0.3 g, bid; observation group was additionally given lornoxicam 8 mg, bid, on the basis of control group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. VAS score was compared between 2 groups before and after treatment, and clinical efficacy and the occurrence of ADR were observed in 2 groups. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance in VAS score between 2 groups before treatment (P>0.05). After treatment, VAS score of 2 groups were decreased significantly, and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Clinical response rate of observation group was 95.0%, which was significantly higher than 75.0% of control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The incidence of ADR was 3.33% in observation group, which was significantly lower than 11.67% of control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lornoxicam is effective for knee osteoarthritis and can significantly improve pain with good safety.