From the Literature: Chronic Knee and Joint Pain
Review the key findings from four recently published studies looking at chronic knee and joint pain.
Journal:Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy: Official Journal of the ESSKA (August, 26, 2010)
Authors:Filardo G, Kon E, Buda R, et al
Purpose:The study was designed to “investigate the persistence of the beneficial effects observed,” in a previous analysis of a 12-month follow-up study that demonstrated positive results in treating patients with knee degeneration with PRP intra-articular injections.
Results:The study evaluated 90 of the 91 patients from the previous study for a two-year follow-up. The patients all presented with a “chronic knee degenerative condition and were treated with three intra-articular PRP injections.” The team took IKDC and EQ-Vas scores. Also recorded were: complications, adverse events, and patient satisfaction. “All of the evaluated parameters worsened at the 24-month follow-up.” Better results were shown in younger patients and “lower degrees of cartilage degeneration.” The researchers concluded that “treatment with PRP injections can reduce pain and improve knee function and quality of life with short-term efficacy.”
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Infiltration of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors for Osteoarthritis of the Knee Short-term Effects on Function and Quality of Life
Journal:Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (August, 17, 2010)
Authors: Wang-Saegusa A, Cugat R, Ares O, et al
Purpose:The researchers sought to evaluate alternative and co-adjuvant therapies to improve the quality of life and physical function of affected patients.
Results:The team treated 808 patients with knee pathology with plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF). Of the total patients, 312 had osteoarthritis of the knee and symptoms that lasted for more than three months. “Three intra-articular injections of autologous PRGF were administered at two-week intervals in outpatient surgery.” The results indicate that at six months “following intra-articular infiltration of PRGF in patients with OA of the knee” experienced “improvements in function and quality of life.”
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Manual for Guided Home Exercises for Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Journal:Clinics (June 2010)
Authors:Carvalho N, Bittar S, Pinto F, et al
Purpose:The researchers sought to “assess the efficiency of a guidance manual for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee in relation to pain, range of movement, muscle strength and function, active goniometry, manual strength test, and function.”
Results:The team studies 38 adults with osteoarthritis of the knee (ages 45 and up). The patients “received guidance for the practice of specific physical exercises and a manual with instructions on how to perform the exercises at home.” The results determined that “the program was effective for improving muscle strength, controlling pain, maintaining range of movement of the knee joint, and reducing functional incapacity.”
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Knee Osteoarthritis, Knee Joint Pain and Aging in Relation to Increasing Serum Hyaluronan Level in the Japanese Population
Journal: Osteoarthritis Cartilage (October 30, 2010)
Authors: Inoue R, Ishibashi Y, Tsuda E, et al
Purpose: The researchers sought to “investigate the relationship between serum hyaluronan (HA) level and the presence and severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) as well as the degree of knee pain in Japanese population.”
Results: The study included 616 volunteers. The participants were placed into three groups based on their score on the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade: normal, moderate and severe. The found that, “Serum HA level has the potential to be useful for the diagnosis of the presence and severity of knee OA.”
