• A novel rat model of early knee osteoarthritis with cold-dampness obstruction syndrome was successfully established by combining anterior cruciate ligament transection with artificial cold-damp environment.
• The cold-dampness obstruction group exhibited significant traditional Chinese medicine syndrome manifestations, including mental fatigue, reduced activity, loose stools, and dark purple tongue.
• CatWalk gait analysis revealed significant changes in gait parameters, such as decreased paw intensity and increased swing phase, in the cold-dampness obstruction group compared to controls.
• Histopathological evaluation showed higher Mankin scores in the cold-dampness obstruction group, indicating more severe cartilage degeneration, validating the model's effectiveness.