The Effect of Therapeutic Methods for Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Interventions: Procedure: radiofrequency neurotomy sham therapy; Procedure: radiofrequency neurotomy for genicular nerve

• Registration Number: NCT00924677
• Lead Sponsor: Asan Medical Center

Brief Summary

Chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain of the knee is not effectively abrogated by the available non-pharmacologic or pharmacologic treatments. Radiofrequency (RF) neurotomy is a therapeutic alternative for chronic pain. Here, the researchers investigate the efficacy of RF neurotomy applied to articular branches (genicular nerves) in treating knee joint pain.

Detailed Description

The knee joint is innervated by articular branches of various nerves (femoral, common peroneal, saphenous, tibial and obturator) (Kennedy et al. 1982; Hirasawa et al. 2000). These articular branches around the knee joint are known as genicular nerves. Several genicular nerves can be easily approached percutaneously under fluoroscopic guidance. In our study, genicular nerves were effectively blocked with local anesthetics under fluoroscopic guidance, leading to a significant reduction in knee pain. Rf neurotomy is based on the theory that cutting the nerve supply to a painful structure may alleviate pain and restore function. we evaluate the efficacy of RF neurotomy in reducing pain and improving function in the elderly with chronic knee OA.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-01
• Primary Completion: 2009-04
• Status Verified: 2009-06
• Study Completion: 2009-06
• Study First Submitted: 2009-06-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-06-18
• Last Update Submitted: 2009-06-18
• Study First Posted: 2009-06-19
• Last Update Posted: 2009-06-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 38

Inclusion Criteria

• patients with chronic knee pain (i.e., knee pain of moderate intensity or greater on most or all days for ≥ 3 months)
• patients with radiologic knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-4, evaluated by a radiologist)

Exclusion Criteria

• acute knee pain
• prior knee surgery
• other connective tissue diseases affecting the knee
• serious neurologic or psychiatric disorders
• injection with steroids or hyaluronic acids during the previous 3 months
• sciatic pain
• anticoagulant medications
• pacemakers
• prior electroacupuncture treatments

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
lidocaine	radiofrequency neurotomy sham therapy	Local injection with lidocaine through the RF cannula without activation of RF generator.
lidocaine, radiofrequency current	radiofrequency neurotomy for genicular nerve	After lidocaine injection through the RF cannula, the temperature of the electrode tip was raised to 70℃ for 90 seconds by RF generator.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Visual analogue scale pain scores	at 12 weeks after the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Oxford knee score	at 12 weeks after the procedure

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine; 🇰🇷 Seoul, Korea, Republic of