In knee osteoarthritis, locally injected anesthetics that block the nerves near the knee joint may offer momentary pain relief.
Highlights:
Results from a recent clinical trial suggest that genicular nerve blocks, or locally injected anesthetics that block nerves around the knee joint, provide temporary pain relief for people with knee osteoarthritis.
About 59 participants were randomly assigned to undergo a nerve block or a placebo injection as part of the trial. Participants rated their pain level on a scale of 0 to 10 at the start of the study and in weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12.
- Genicular nerve block injections provided temporary pain relief in knee osteoarthritis
- It can be an effective treatment option for patients waiting for, or wishing to defer surgery
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Heavy physically demanding occupations and occupational activities can increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Agriculture workers, construction workers, miners, service workers, houseworkers and cleaners are at increased risk.
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‘For persons with knee osteoarthritis, a genicular nerve block is an efficient short-term pain control treatment.’
Nerve Block Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis
Patients who received a nerve block said their pain scores had improved at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to the baseline, but the effects gradually wore off. At baseline, in weeks 2, 4, and 8, the scores for nerve block versus placebo were 6.2 versus 5.3, 2.7 versus 4.7, 3.2 versus 5.1, 3.9 versus 4.9, and 4.6 versus 5.1, respectively. Most patients who received the blocks believed that during the follow-up period, they had significantly improved from baseline.Pain Management in Knee Osteoarthritis
“This study demonstrates that genicular nerve block is an effective short-term therapy for pain management in people with knee osteoarthritis,” said corresponding author Ernst M. Shanahan, BMBS, MPH, MHPE, PhD, FAFOEM, FRACP, of Flinders University, in Australia. “We think it may be a useful treatment option for this group of people, in particular those waiting for, or wishing to defer surgery.”Source-Medindia
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