Ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block versus physical therapy for chronic knee osteoarthritis: a prospective randomised study.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Güler, Tuba Yurdakul, Fatma Gül Önder, Mustafa Erkut Erdoğan, Faruk Yavuz, Kaan Becenen, Elif Uçkun, Aslı Bodur, Hatice
Abstract	To compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block (GNB) and physical therapy (PT) in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis. A prospective randomised study with 102 patients (45–70 years) was performed wherein the patients received ultrasound-guided GNB (n = 51) and PT (n = 51) along with a standard home exercise programme. Scores for pain on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and 6-min walking test (6MWT) were assessed pre-treatment and at 2- and 12-weeks post-treatment. Both groups were comparable for sociodemographic characteristics. VAS scores (in mm) in the ultrasound-guided GNB group at 0, 2 and 12 weeks were 7.01 ± 1.36; 3.71 ± 2.18; 5.08 ± 2.22 (p < 0.001) and 6.64 ± 1.99; 4.35 ± 1.09; 5.25 ± 1.33, (p < 0.001) in the PT group. While the increase in the 6MWT test in the 2nd week was similar for both groups (p = 0.073), the increase in walking distance was greater in the ultrasound-guided GNB group at 12 weeks (p = 0.046). As compared to PT, ultrasound-guided GNB is beneficial in reducing pain and increasing functional and physical capacity, with greater retention of effects on the physical capacity seen at 12 weeks. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04782401).
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC8852952&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	01728172
Journal	Rheumatology International [Rheumatol Int]
Volume Number	42
DOI	10.1007/s00296-022-05101-8
PubMed Central reference number	PMC8852952
Issue Number	4
PubMed reference number	35165769
e-ISSN	1437160X
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publisher Date	2022-02-14
Publisher Place	Berlin/Heidelberg
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This article is made available via the PMC Open Access Subset for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2022
Subject Keyword	Knee joint Nerve block Osteoarthritis Physical therapy modalities Ultrasound
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Immunology and Allergy Immunology Rheumatology