References/More Data Page

 

Knee Osteoarthritis Bibliography

 

More Sports Medicine Information/EMEDx

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004;86-A Suppl 2:26-32. 
Minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty.

Bonutti PM, Mont MA, McMahon M, Ragland PS, Kester M.

Currently, minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty is defined as an incision length of < 14 cm. However, the length of the incision is not the primary influence on potential postoperative benefits to the patient and should not be the only characteristic of the minimally invasive approach for knee arthroplasty. Some other factors that should also be included in this definition are: 1. The amount of soft-tissue dissection (including muscle, ligament, and capsular damage). 2. Patellar retraction or eversion. 3. Tibiofemoral dislocation. Minimally invasive surgery should not be considered to be a cosmetic procedure but rather one that addresses patients' concerns with regard to postoperative pain and slow rehabilitation. Standard total knee arthroplasties provide pain relief, but returning to activities of daily living remains a challenge for some individuals, who may take several weeks to recover. Several studies have demonstrated long-term success (at more than ten years) of standard total knee arthroplasties. However, many patients remain unsatisfied with the results of the surgery. In a study of functional limitations of patients with a Knee Society score of > or = 90 points after total knee arthroplasty, only 35% of patients stated that they had no limitations. This finding was highlighted in a study by Dickstein et al., in which one-third of the elderly patients who underwent knee replacement were unhappy with the outcome at six and twelve months postoperatively. Although many surgeons utilize objective functional scoring systems to evaluate outcome, it is likely that the criteria for a successful result of total knee arthroplasty differ between the patient and the surgeon. This was evident in a report by Bullens et al., who concluded that surgeons are more satisfied with the results of total knee arthroplasty than are their patients. Trousdale et al. showed that, in addition to concerns about long-term functional outcome, patients' major concerns were postoperative pain and the time required for recovery. Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty have specific functional goals, such as climbing stairs, squatting, kneeling, and returning to some level of low-impact sports after surgery. Our clinical investigations demonstrated that the minimally invasive surgical approach reduces hospital stays, decreases postoperative pain, and decreases rehabilitation needs as well as enables patients to return to normal function more quickly. It is important for surgeons to take an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary, approach when performing minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty. The surgeon should downsize incisions progressively to prevent severe damage to the quadriceps mechanism. Extensive open exposure, prolonged patellar eversion, and dislocation of the tibiofemoral joint should evolve into a vastus medialis muscle split with patellar subluxation, retraction but not dislocation of the patella, and avoidance of gross dislocation of the tibiofemoral joint. Developing the techniques of minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty may be difficult and time-consuming, but patient benefits and satisfaction should outweigh the extra effort required. These changes require well-designed clinical studies to further document their effectiveness.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16188417&query_hl=13

Eur J Radiol. 2005 Sep 24; [Epub ahead of print] 
Cartilage repair: Generations of autologous chondrocyte transplantation.

Marlovits S, Zeller P, Singer P, Resinger C, Vecsei V.

Department of Traumatology, Center for Joint and Cartilage, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

Articular cartilage in adults has a limited capacity for self-repair after a substantial injury. Surgical therapeutic efforts to treat cartilage defects have focused on delivering new cells capable of chondrogenesis into the lesions. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is an advanced cell-based orthobiologic technology used for the treatment of chondral defects of the knee that has been in clinical use since 1987 and has been performed on 12,000 patients internationally. With ACT, good to excellent clinical results are seen in isolated post-traumatic lesions of the knee joint in the younger patient, with the formation of hyaline or hyaline-like repair tissue. In the classic ACT technique, chondrocytes are isolated from small slices of cartilage harvested arthroscopically from a minor weight-bearing area of the injured knee. The extracellular matrix is removed by enzymatic digestion, and the cells are then expanded in monolayer culture. Once a sufficient number of cells has been obtained, the chondrocytes are implanted into the cartilage defect, using a periosteal patch over the defect as a method of cell containment. The major complications are periosteal hypertrophy, delamination of the transplant, arthrofibrosis and transplant failure. Further improvements in tissue engineering have contributed to the next generation of ACT techniques, where cells are combined with resorbable biomaterials, as in matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT). These biomaterials secure the cells in the defect area and enhance their proliferation and differentiation.

 

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16125942&query_hl=5

Knee. 2005 Aug 25; [Epub ahead of print] 
Autologous osteochondral transplantation for the treatment of chondral defects of the knee.

Karataglis D, Green MA, Learmonth DJ.

Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Bristol Road South, Birmingham B31 2AP , UK .

Full-thickness chondral defects of weight-bearing articular surfaces of the knee are a difficult condition to treat. Our aim is to evaluate the mid- and long-term functional outcome of the treatment of osteochondral defects of the knee with autologous osteochondral transplantation with the OATS technique. Thirty-six patients (37 procedures) were included in this study. Twenty-three patients were male and thirteen were female with a mean age of 31.9 years (range: 18-48 years). The cause of the defect was OCD in 10 cases, AVN in 2, lateral patellar maltracking in 7, while in the remaining 17 patients the defect was post-traumatic. The lesion was located on the femoral condyles in 26 cases and the patellofemoral joint in the remaining 11. The average area covered was 2.73 cm(2) (range: 0.8-12 cm(2)) and patients were followed for an average of 36.9 months (range: 18-73 months). The average score in their Tegner Activity Scale was 3.76 (range: 1-8), while their score in Activities of Daily Living Scale of the Knee Outcome Survey ranged from 18 to 98 with an average of 72.3. Thirty-two out of 37 patients (86.5%) reported improvement of their pre-operative symptoms. All but 5 patients returned to their previous occupation while 18 went back to sports. No correlation was found between patient age at operation, the size or site of the chondral lesion and the functional outcome. We believe that autologous osteochondral grafting with the OATS technique is a safe and successful treatment option for focal osteochondral defects of the knee. It offers a very satisfactory functional outcome and does not compromise the patient's future options.

 

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15846755&query_hl=1

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Apr 18;(2):CD005328. 
Intraarticular corticosteroid for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Bellamy N, Campbell J, Robinson V, Gee T, Bourne R, Wells G.

Medicine, Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD), C Floor, Clinical Sciences Bldg., Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston Road, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia. nbellamy@medicine.uq.edu.au

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder. In the knee, injections of corticosteroids into the joint (intra-articular (IA)) may relieve inflammation, and reduce pain and disability. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of IA corticosteroids in treatment of OA of the knee. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 2, 2003), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PREMEDLINE (all to July 2003), and Current Contents (Sept 2000). Specialised journals, trial reference lists and review articles were handsearched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials of IA corticosteroids for patients with OA of the knee: single/double blind, placebo-based/comparative studies, reporting at least one core OMERACT III outcome measure. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Methodological quality of trials was assessed, and data were extracted in duplicate. Fixed effect and random effects models, giving weighted mean differences (WMD), were used for continuous variables. Dichotomous outcomes were analysed by relative risk (RR). MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-six trials (1721 participants) comparing IA corticosteroid against placebo, against IA hyaluronan/hylan (HA products), against joint lavage, and against other IA corticosteroids, were included.IA corticosteroid was more effective than IA placebo for pain reduction (WMD -17.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) -25.02 to -10.55) and patient global assessment (the RR was 1.44 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.82)) at one week post injection with an NNT of 3 to 4 for both, based on n=185 for pain on 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) and n=158 for patient global assessment. Data on function were sparse at one week post injection and neither statistically significant nor clinically important differences were detected.There was evidence of pain reduction between two weeks (the RR was 1.81 (95% CI 1.09 to 3.00)) to three weeks (the RR was 3.11 (95% CI 1.61 to 6.01), but a lack of evidence for efficacy in functional improvement.At four to 24 weeks post injection, there was lack of evidence of effect on pain and function (small studies showed benefits which did not reach statistical or clinical importance, i.e. less than 20% risk difference). For patient global, there were three studies which consistently showed lack of effect longer than one week post injection. However, all were fairly small sample sizes (less than 50 patients per group). This was supported by another study which did not find statistically significant differences, at any time point, on a continuous measure of patient global assessment (100 mm VAS).In comparisons of corticosteroids and HA products, no statistically significant differences were in general detected at one to four weeks post injection. Between five and 13 weeks post injection, HA products were more effective than corticosteroids for one or more of the following variables: WOMAC OA Index, Lequesne Index, pain, range of motion (flexion), and number of responders. One study showed a difference in function between 14 to 26 weeks, but no differences in efficacy were detected at 45 to 52 weeks. In general, the onset of effect was similar with IA corticosteroids, but was less durable than with HA products.Comparisons of IA corticosteroids showed triamcinolone hexacetonide was superior to betamethasone for number of patients reporting pain reduction up to four weeks post injection (the RR was 2.00 (95% CI 1.10 to 3.63). Comparisons between IA corticosteroid and joint lavage showed no differences in any of the efficacy or safety outcome measures. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The short-term benefit of IA corticosteroids in treatment of knee OA is well established, and few side effects have been reported. Longer term benefits have not been confirmed based on the RevMan analysis. The response to HA products appears more durable. In this review, some discrepancies were observed between the RevMan 4.1 analysis and the original publication. These are likely the result of using secondary rather than primary data and the statistical methods available in RevMan 4.1. Future trials should have standardised outcome measures and assessment times, run longer, investigate different patient subgroups, and clinical predictors of response (those associated with inflammation and structural damage).

 

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15855241&query_hl=1

Ann Pharmacother. 2005 Jun;39(6):1080-7. Epub 2005 Apr 26. 
Glucosamine long-term treatment and the progression of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Poolsup N, Suthisisang C, Channark P, Kittikulsuth W.

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University , Nakhon-Pathom , Thailand . nalinee@email.pharm.su.ac.th

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the structural and symptomatic efficacy and safety of glucosamine in knee osteoarthritis (OA). DATA SOURCES: Clinical trials of glucosamine were identified through electronic searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, EMB review, the Cochrane Library) using the key words glucosamine, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, degenerative arthritis, osteoarthrosis, gonarthrosis, knee, disease progression, and clinical trial. The bibliographic databases were searched from their respective inception dates to August 2004. We also hand-searched reference lists of relevant articles. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Studies were included if they were double-blind, randomized, controlled trials that evaluated oral glucosamine long-term treatment in knee OA; lasting at least one year; and reporting as outcome measures the symptom severity and disease progression as assessed by joint space narrowing. Two authors interpreted data independently. Disagreements were resolved through discussion. DATA SYNTHESIS: Glucosamine sulfate was more effective than placebo in delaying structural progression in knee OA. The risk of disease progression was reduced by 54% (pooled RR 0.46; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.73; p = 0.0011). The number-needed-to-treat was 9 (95% CI 6 to 20). The pooled effect sizes for pain reduction and improvement in physical function were 0.41 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.60; p < 0.0001) and 0.46 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.66; p < 0.0001), respectively, in favor of glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine sulfate caused no more adverse effects than placebo. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence suggests that glucosamine sulfate may be effective and safe in delaying the progression and improving the symptoms of knee OA. Due to the sparse data on structural efficacy and safety, further studies are warranted.

 

 

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15995426&query_hl=1

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005 Jul;(436):91-9. 
The appropriate use of patellofemoral arthroplasty: an analysis of reported indications, contraindications, and failures.

Leadbetter WB, Ragland PS, Mont MA.

Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopaedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore , MD 21215 , USA . leadbettermd@aol.com

Patellofemoral arthroplasty is going through a recent resurgence in interest with various new designs being introduced for general orthopaedic use. With this renewed enthusiasm for the procedure, it is important to understand the various indications and contraindications for using patellofemoral arthroplasty devices with the expectation that proper patient selection will improve outcome. Our purpose was to analyze the appropriate usage of these prostheses based on published historical results. A literature search was done to review the indications, contraindications, and factors contributing to the failure of these devices. We analyzed 12 studies reporting results of patellofemoral arthroplasty between 1979 and 2005. Commonly cited contraindications for using these devices have been tibiofemoral arthritis, uncorrected patellofemoral or tibiofemoral malalignment, and inflammatory arthritis. The highest failure rates were in patients with progression of osteoarthritis in other compartments or persistence of congenital or surgically uncorrected malalignment. In analyzing the reasons for failures in these reports together with issues already known to affect total knee arthroplasty surgery, we suggest an expanded list of outcome-altering factors to consider when choosing to do a patellofemoral arthroplasty. Finally, based on these observations and our own experience, suggestions on the best approach to the patient with patellofemoral arthritis are made to avoid less than optimal results if patellofemoral arthroplasty is considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Study, Level II-3 (systematic review of Level-II studies. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15934131&query_hl=1

Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Jun 15;53(3):388-94. 
Cost effectiveness of a two-year home exercise program for the treatment of knee pain.

Thomas KS, Miller P, Doherty M, Muir KR, Jones AC, O'Reilly SC.

City Hospital , Nottingham , United Kingdom . kim.thomas@nottingham.ac.uk

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost effectiveness of a 2-year home exercise program for the treatment of knee pain. METHODS: A total of 759 adults aged > or = 45 years were randomized to receive exercise therapy, monthly telephone contact, exercise therapy and telephone contact, or no intervention. Efficacy was measured using self-reported knee pain at 2 years. Costs to both the National Health Service and to the patient were included. RESULTS: Exercise therapy was associated with higher costs and better effectiveness. Direct costs for the interventions were pound 112 for the exercise program and pound 61 for the monthly telephone support. Participants allocated to receive exercise therapy were significantly more likely to incur higher medical costs than those in the no-exercise groups (mean difference pound 225; 95% confidence interval pound 218, pound 232; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Exercise therapy is associated with improvements in knee pain, but the cost of delivering the exercise program is unlikely to be offset by any reduction in medical resource use.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15996071&query_hl=1

J Rheumatol. 2005 Jul;32(7):1317-23. 
Safety study of intraarticular injection of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter study.

Chevalier X, Giraudeau B, Conrozier T, Marliere J, Kiefer P, Goupille P.

Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Henri Mondor, University Paris XII, Paris , France . xavier.chevalier@hmn.ap-hop-paris.fr

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin 1 (IL-1) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). In animal models of OA, IL-1 blockade by IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) can slow the progression of disease. We examined the safety of intraarticular (IA) injections of recombinant human IL-1Ra in patients with knee OA. METHODS: A prospective multicenter trial was conducted using the continual reassessment method. Six doses were considered, 0.05 mg up to 150 mg IL-1Ra, and the trial was double-blind regarding the dose administered. Patients with symptomatic knee OA and without synovial fluid effusion were included. Acute inflammatory reaction (the primary endpoint defining intolerance) was recorded if pain increase over 30 mm on 100 mm visual analog scale and synovial fluid effusion occurred within 72 h after the IA injection. As a secondary aim, efficacy was estimated (by total pain and Western Ontario and McMaster University OA functional index) until Month 3. RESULTS: One patient received 0.05 mg and 13 patients received 150 mg of IL-1Ra. No acute reaction occurred (one patient experienced postinjection joint swelling with no pain) and the 150 mg dose was considered the maximum tolerated dose (intolerance level 0%; confidence interval 0, 9.1%). A significant improvement was still observed until Month 3 in the 13 patients who received 150 mg IL-1Ra: pain improved by -20.4 +/- 23.3 mm (p = 0.008) and WOMAC global score by -19.5 +/- 20.1 (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: IA injection of IL-1Ra in patients with knee OA was well tolerated and did not induce any acute inflammatory reaction. The feasibility of such IA injections of IL-1Ra opens a promising therapeutic perspective for patients with OA.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16005336&query_hl=1

Lancet. 2005 Jul 9-15;366(9480):136-43.
Acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomised trial.

Witt C, Brinkhaus B, Jena S, Linde K, Streng A, Wagenpfeil S, Hummelsberger J, Walther HU, Melchart D, Willich SN.

Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charite University Medical Centre , Berlin , Germany . claudia.witt@charite.de

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is widely used by patients with chronic pain although there is little evidence of its effectiveness. We investigated the efficacy of acupuncture compared with minimal acupuncture and with no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: Patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee (Kellgren grade < or =2) were randomly assigned to acupuncture (n=150), minimal acupuncture (superficial needling at non-acupuncture points; n=76), or a waiting list control (n=74). Specialised physicians, in 28 outpatient centres, administered acupuncture and minimal acupuncture in 12 sessions over 8 weeks. Patients completed standard questionnaires at baseline and after 8 weeks, 26 weeks, and 52 weeks. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index at the end of week 8 (adjusted for baseline score). All main analyses were by intention to treat. RESULTS: 294 patients were enrolled from March 6, 2002, to January 17, 2003; eight patients were lost to follow-up after randomisation, but were included in the final analysis. The mean baseline-adjusted WOMAC index at week 8 was 26.9 (SE 1.4) in the acupuncture group, 35.8 (1.9) in the minimal acupuncture group, and 49.6 (2.0) in the waiting list group (treatment difference acupuncture vs minimal acupuncture -8.8, [95% CI -13.5 to -4.2], p=0.0002; acupuncture vs waiting list -22.7 [-27.5 to -17.9], p<0.0001). After 52 weeks the difference between the acupuncture and minimal acupuncture groups was no longer significant (p=0.08). INTERPRETATION: After 8 weeks of treatment, pain and joint function are improved more with acupuncture than with minimal acupuncture or no acupuncture in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. However, this benefit decreases over time.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16056047&query_hl=1

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005 Aug;(437):176-85. 
Fresh osteochondral allografts.

Jamali AA, Emmerson BC, Chung C, Convery FR, Bugbee WD.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Medical Center , Sacramento , CA 95817 , USA . ajamali@ucdavis.edu

Twenty knees in 18 patients were treated (mean age, 42 years; range, 19-64 years) with fresh osteochondral allografting limited to the patellofemoral joint. The knees were analyzed retrospectively to determine the rate of successful outcomes. The trochlea and patella were treated in 12 patients and the patella was treated in eight patients. There were 11 women and seven men. The primary outcome measures were revision allografting, arthrodesis, or arthroplasty, and clinical scoring using a modified Merle D'Aubigne-Postel 18-point scale. Radiographs were available for 12 knees. There were five failures. For the remaining knees, the clinical scores increased from a mean of 11.7 points (range, 7-15 points) to 16.3 points (range, 12-18 points). Of the knees evaluated radiographically, four had no evidence of patellofemoral arthrosis, and six had only mild arthrosis. Fresh osteochondral allografting is a salvage procedure for the young, active patient with severe articular cartilage disease of the patellofemoral joint. The results of this procedure are comparable to results of described other techniques in the literature. If allograft incorporation does occur, the procedure is associated with improved pain, function, range of motion, and a low risk of progressive arthritis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV (case series--no, or historical control group). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16078345&query_hl=1

J Rheumatol. 2005 Aug;32(8):1615-8. 
Transplant of mesenchymal stem cells and hydroxyapatite ceramics to treat severe osteochondral damage after septic arthritis of the knee.

Adachi N, Ochi M, Deie M, Ito Y.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University , Japan . nadachi@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

We describe a 21-year-old man with a large osteochondral defect of the knee after septic arthritis, successfully treated by transplant of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from bone marrow and a new type of interconnected porous hydroxyapatite ceramic (IP-CHA). We confirmed successful cartilage-like tissue regeneration by a second arthroscopy. Biopsy of the repaired tissue revealed cartilage-like regeneration and bone formation. We were able to regenerate new bone and cartilage-like tissue in a one-stage operation, without sacrificing autologous bone or other tissue. This cultured MSC and IP-CHA hybrid material transplant represents a novel treatment for a severe osteochondral defect after septic arthritis.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16093845&query_hl=1

Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2005 Sep;17(5):634-40. 
Exercise as a treatment for osteoarthritis.

Bennell K, Hinman R.

Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, School of Physiotherapy , University of Melbourne , Australia . k.bennell@unimelb.edu.au

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights recent important research, future directions, and clinical applications for exercise and osteoarthritis. It focuses on knee osteoarthritis because of its prevalence and the dearth of research involving other joint osteoarthritis. The review covers exercise prescription for symptomatic relief, and its potential role in reducing development and slowing progression of osteoarthritis. RECENT FINDINGS: Meta-analyses support recommendations that exercise is important in osteoarthritis management. Benefits appear to be additive when exercise is delivered with other interventions such as weight loss. Mode of exercise delivery has cost implications and may influence overall outcome. It appears that supervised exercise sessions are superior to home exercises for pain reduction. The challenge remains to increase the proportion of patients exercising. Areas of emerging interest are exercise to prevent disease or slow its progression and recognition of patient subgroups that may respond differently to treatment. Based on studies showing a relation between weaker quadriceps strength and increased risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, particularly in women, strength training may be able to prevent knee osteoarthritis. Novel exercise programs that strengthen hip muscles or alter impairments in knee neuromuscular control may also influence disease progression. SUMMARY: Future studies must identify cost-effective exercise modes, strategies to maximize exercise compliance and optimal treatment combinations. The role of muscle strength and altered neuromuscular control in the prevention and development of osteoarthritis must be evaluated with the view to devising and testing novel exercise interventions.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16093848&query_hl=1

Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2005 Sep;17(5):653-6. 
Footwear alterations and bracing as treatments for knee osteoarthritis.

Krohn K.

Department of Clinical Research, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA . kkrohn@mercy.pmhs.org

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The biomechanical aspects of gait and the impact of alignment have been recognized as important in the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Improving malalignment and altering the dynamic forces on the involved compartment of the knee during gait have the potential to improve the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. This review examines the use of foot orthoses and knee braces to change the biomechanical forces on the knee joint and to reduce pain and improve function in patients with existing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. RECENT FINDINGS: Malalignment has been shown to have an impact on the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis who have a visible varus thrust will also progress at a more rapid rate than patients without a varus thrust. Lateral wedge foot orthoses have been shown in biomechanical studies and clinical studies to reduce the load on the medial compartment and improve the symptoms of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Knee braces that stabilize the knee joint and provide a valgus stress have been shown to improve pain and function in patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. SUMMARY: The development of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and the progression of joint space loss is in part a biomechanical process. To improve patients' function and possibly reduce disease progression, a biomechanical approach should be included in the treatment plan for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Foot orthoses and knee braces have been shown in selected patients to have a role in the management of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16144589&query_hl=1

J Fam Pract. 2005 Sep;54(9):758-67 
relieve knee pain.

Modawal A, Ferrer M, Choi HK, Castle JA.

Department of Family Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0582, USA. modawaa@fammed.uc.edu

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular viscosupplementation therapy with hyaluronic acid for pain relief of knee osteoarthritis, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials. METHODS: We searched systematically for randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials of hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan and hylan G-F20) for pain relief of knee osteoarthritis. Studies reporting pain visual analogue scale (VAS) differences were included in the meta-analysis. Changes in pain were measured by VAS for placebo and treatment, and summary estimates of the differences between the 2 arms were calculated at 1 week, 5 to 7 weeks, 8 to 12, and 15 to 22 weeks after the last intra-articular injection. Sources of heterogeneity were assessed using information on quality score, type of viscosupplementation, and VAS change in pain with activity or rest. Heterogeneity across the studies was significant in all analyses (P<.01); therefore a random effect model was used. Pain was measured either on activity or at rest. RESULTS: Eleven trials (9 hyaluronan and 2 hylan G-F 20) allowed calculation of the summary estimate of difference in change of VAS pain at 1 week, 6 of the 11 allowed the estimation between 5 to 7 weeks and 8 to 12 weeks, and only 3 at 15 to 22 weeks. The summary estimates of VAS differences between therapy and placebo injection: at 1 week, 4.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-7.2); at 5 to 7 weeks, 17.7 (7.5-28.0); at 8 to 12 weeks, 18.1 (6.3-29.9) and at 15 to 22 weeks, 4.4 (-15.3 to 24.1). CONCLUSION: Intra-articular viscosupplementation was moderately effective in relieving knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis at 5 to 7 and 8 to 10 weeks after the last injection but not at 15 to 22 weeks.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16164954&query_hl=1

Orthop Clin North Am. 2005 Oct;36(4):497-504. 
High tibial osteotomy for the treatment of unicompartmental arthritis of the knee.

Amendola A, Panarella L.

Department of Orthopaedics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, 01018 JPP, Iowa City, IA 52242-1088, USA.

Knee axial deformities associated with medial or lateral compartment osteoarthritis can be reliably addressed with high tibial osteotomies. Different surgical techniques can be successfully used for achieving the correction. Whatever the technique used, accurate patient selection and precise surgical procedure are critical to the success of the operation. The authors believe that proximal tibial osteotomy is a valuable procedure to achieve pain relief and to restore knee function in selected patients. Localized knee osteoarthritis of the highly motivated, older, active patient can also be included in the extended indications of the high tibial osteotomy.

 

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16200033&query_hl=1

Eura Medicophys. 2005 Jun;41(2):163-71.
Therapeutic exercise for knee osteoarthritis: considering factors that may influence outcome.

Fitzgerald GK.

Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

While exercise has been shown to be beneficial for reducing pain and improving physical function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA), there are still individuals who do not always respond well to this treatment approach. There are a number of factors that have been shown to influence either the degree of disability and/or the progression of disease in individuals with knee OA. These factors include quadriceps inhibition or activation failure, obesity, passive knee laxity, knee alignment, fear of physical activity and self efficacy. It may be possible that varying levels of these factors might also interfere with an individual's ability to participate in an exercise or physical activity program or minimize the benefits that can be achieved by such programs. This paper examines the influence of these factors on physical function and their potential for altering the outcome of exercise therapy programs for individuals with knee OA. Implications and suggestions for potential adjunctive interventions to address these factors in future research and clinical practice are also discussed.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16206349&query_hl=1

J Rheumatol. 2005 Oct;32(10):1928-36.

Clinical effects of intraarticular injection of high molecular weight hyaluronan (orthovisc(r)) in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial.

Neustadt D, Caldwell J, Bell M, Wade J, Gimbel J.

Department of Medicine, Section on Rheumatic Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of injection of high molecular weight (HMW) hyaluronan (Orthovisc(R)) in patients with mild, moderate, and severe knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: A randomized, arthrocentesis-controlled, multicenter trial. Patients (n = 372) were randomized to 4 weekly HMW hyaluronan injections (O4, n = 128), 3 weekly HMW hyaluronan injections followed by one arthrocentesis (O3A1, n = 120), or 4 arthrocenteses without injection (control group, A4, n = 124). All patients had knee OA, as determined by Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade, and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score >/= 200 mm and < 400 mm in index knee and < 150 mm in contralateral knee. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients achieving a 20% relative and 50 mm absolute improvement from baseline in WOMAC pain score at Weeks 8, 12, 16, and 22 post-baseline in the index knee. Secondary outcomes were Patient Global score, Investigator Global score, and Pain on Standing score. RESULTS: The evaluable subgroup consisted of patients with K-L grade 2 or 3 at baseline. The comparison of O4 versus A4 for the primary outcome approached, but did not reach, significance in the evaluable subgroup: 76% of O4 patients had >/= 20% improvement in WOMAC pain score at Week 8 compared to 62% of A4 patients. More O4 patients had >/= 40% improvement in WOMAC pain score compared to A4. The effectiveness of the 3-injection regimen (O3A1) was masked by a possible placebo effect from the needle injection procedure in the A4 (control) group. No differences between groups were observed with respect to incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that HMW hyaluronan is safe and seems to be effective in the treatment of mild to severe OA of the knee.