Pain management in patients with knee osteoarthritis by ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block. Case reports

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Alves Rodrigues ◽  
Eduardo José Silva Gomes de Oliveira ◽  
João Batista Santos Garcia
2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 788.2-789
Author(s):  
B. Tas ◽  
P. Akpinar ◽  
I. Aktas ◽  
F. Unlu Ozkan ◽  
I. B. Kurucu

Background:Genicular nerve block (GNB) is a safe and effective therapeutic procedure for intractable pain associated with chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA)(1). There is increasing support for the neuropathic component to the knee OA pain. Investigators proposed that targeting treatment to the underlying pain mechanism can improve pain management in knee OA (2). There is a debate on injectable solutions used in nerve blocks (3).Objectives:To investigate the analgesic and functional effects of USG-guided GNB in patients with chronic knee OA (with/without neuropathic pain) and to evaluate the efficacy of the anesthetic and non-anesthetic solutions used.Methods:Ninety patients with chronic knee OA between the ages of 50-80 were divided into two groups with and without neuropathic pain according to painDETECT questionnaire (4). The groups were randomized into three subgroups to either the lidocaine group (n=30) or dextrose group (n=29) or saline solutions (n=31). After the ultrasound-guided GNB, quadriceps isometric strengthening exercises and cryotherapy were recommended to the patients. Visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Lequesne-algofunctional Index were assessed at baseline and at 1 week, 1 and 3 months later after the procedure.Results:Statistically significant improvement was observed in all groups with or without neuropathic pain according to VAS values at the 1stweek, 1stmonth and 3rdmonth compared to baseline (p<0.05). Statistically significant improvement was observed in all groups with neuropathic pain according to painDETECT values at the 1stweek, 1stmonth and 3rdmonth compared to baseline (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant improvement in the groups without neuropathic pain which received dextrose and saline solutions, according to painDETECT values, but not in the group which received lidocain at the 1stweek, 1stmonth and 3rdmonth compared to baseline (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant improvement in all groups with or without neuropathic pain according to WOMAC and Lequesne total scores at the 1stweek, 1stmonth and 3rdmonth compared to baseline (p<0.05).Conclusion:We conclude that in patients with chronic knee OA (with/without neuropathic pain), the use of GNB with USG is an analgesic method which provides short to medium term analgesia and functional recovery and has no serious side effects. The lack of significant difference between the anesthetic and non-anesthetic solutions used in the GNB suggests that this may be a central effect rather than a symptom of peripheral nerve dysfunction. It suggests that injection may have an indirect effect through nociceptive processing and changes in neuroplastic mechanisms in the brain. In addition, we can say that regular exercise program contributes to improved physical function with the decrease in pain.References:[1]Kim DH et al. Ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block for knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of local anesthetic alone or in combination with corticosteroid. Pain Physician 2018;21:41-51.[2]Thakur M et.al. Osteoarthritis pain: nociceptive or neuropathic?. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2014:10(6):374.[3]Lam SKH et al. Transition from deep regional blocks toward deep nerve hydrodissection in the upper body and torso: method description and results from a retrospective chart review. BioMed Research International Volume 2017;7920438.[4]Hochman JR et al. Neuropathic pain symptoms in a community knee OA cohort. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011 Jun;19(6):647-54.Fig. 1:Ultrasound- guided identification of GNB target sites. Doppler mode. White arrows indicate genicular arteries.A.Superior medial genicular artery.B.Inferior medial genicular artery.C.Superior lateral genicular artery.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Author(s):  
Abdel Rahman Ragab ◽  
Sherif Hegab ◽  
Rehab Elnemr ◽  
Amr Abdel-Kerim

Abstract Background Chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a frequent disease among the elderly. Intra-articular corticosteroid injection (IACSI) was commonly adopted to alleviate knee OA-related pains. Recently, Genicular nerve block (GNB) has emerged as a new alternative technique. The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of those two approaches when guided with ultrasound and to determine which one offers better results. This study included 40 patients with painful chronic knee OA (Nine males and 31 females, age ranged from 44 to 65 years) and were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Groups 1 was managed with ultrasound-guided IACSI and group 2 with ultrasound-guided GNB using a mixture of lidocaine and Triamcinolone Acetonide. The baseline mean visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oxford knee score (OKS) for the group 1 were 87.10 and 51.3, while for group 2 were 87.75 and 53.25 respectively. Follow up values were obtained at 2, 4 and 8 weeks using VAS and OKS. Results The VAS score and OKS score were significantly lower in the GNB group and IACSI group at 2, and 4 weeks after the procedure (p < 0.001 for all), then returned near baseline values at 8 weeks. When the two groups were compared according to changes in VAS and OKS from baseline at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, GNB group showed significant alleviation of pain (mean reduction of 58.5, 53.3, and 9.25 points at 2, 4, and 8 weeks versus 44.9, 39.4, and 5.6 points at the IACSI groups, p < 0.001 at 2 and 4 weeks, p < 0.006 at 8 weeks). Similarly at the OKS, the GNB group showed significantly better results (33.50, 28.60, and 8.5 at GNB and 26.45, 20.10, 5.25 at IACSI. p < 0.001 at all periods). Conclusions Both GNB and IACSI are effective methods to relieve chronic knee osteoarthritis-related pains. When compared to each other, GNB showed more significant pain relief and functional improvement than IACSI.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-176
Author(s):  
Saki ISHIKAWA ◽  
Yasuo SUZUKI ◽  
Chihiro SEKIJIMA ◽  
Koichi HIROKI ◽  
Noriko MIYAZAWA ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 5;19 (5;19) ◽  
pp. E751-E759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Serdar Kesikburun

Background: Genicular nerve ablation with radiofrequency (RF) has recently emerged as a promising treatment in the management of osteoarthritis related knee pain. To date, genicular nerve injections have been performed under fluoroscopic guidance. Objective: To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve pulsed RF treatment on chronic knee pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Study Design: Single-arm prospective study. Setting: University hospital and rehabilitation center in Turkey. Methods: A review was made of 29 patients with medial knee osteoarthritis who had undergone genicular nerve block in the previous 6 months. Patients with at least 50% reduction in the visual analog scale (VAS) score after genicular nerve block and with no on-going pain relief were selected for the study. Ultrasound-guided genicular nerve pulsed RF was applied to 15 knees of 9 patients. Pain and knee function were assessed with 100-mm VAS and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index throughout 3 months. Results: A significant reduction in VAS scores was detected over time after the pulsed RF procedure (f: 69.24, P < 0.01). There was a significant improvement in the WOMAC scores (f: 539.68 , P < 0.01). Limitations: The small number of participants, the lack of a control group, and short followup period were limitations of the study. Conclusions: Genicular nerve pulsed RF treatment has been found to be safe and beneficial in osteoarthritis related knee pain. Further studies with a larger population and randomized controlled study design are warranted to confirm the positive findings of this preliminary report. Key words: Knee pain, osteoarthritis, genicular nerve, ultrasonography, pulsed radiofrequency


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