Anesthetics that block nerves around the knee relieve pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Results from a recent clinical trial published by Wiley in Arthritis & Rheumatology demonstrate that patients with knee osteoarthritis experience short term pain relief from genicular nerve blocks—or locally injected anesthetics that block nerves around the knee joint.

In the trial, 59 patients were randomized to receive a nerve block or a placebo injection. At baseline and weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12, participants recorded their pain on a scale of 0 to 10.

Patients who received a nerve block reported improvement in pain scores at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks, compared with baseline, but with diminishing effects over time. Scores for nerve block versus placebo at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12 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 felt they had improved or greatly improved from baseline during the follow up period. 

“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.”

URL Upon Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.42384

Additional Information

NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com

Full Citation: ”Genicular nerve block for pain management in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomised placebo-controlled trial.” Ernst M. Shanahan, Lucinda Robinson, Suellen Lyne, Richard Woodman, Fin Cai, Kokum Dissanayake, Kate Paddick, Giovanna Cheung, and Frank Voyvodic. Arthritis & Rheumatology; Published Online: November 12, 2022 (DOI: 10.1002/art.42384).

URL Upon Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.42384

Author Contact: Michael.Shanahan@sa.gov.au

About the Journal

Arthritis & Rheumatology is an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and covers all aspects of inflammatory disease. The journal is published by Wiley on behalf of the ACR. For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/art.

About the American College of Rheumatology

The American College of Rheumatology (www.rheumatology.org) is the professional organization whose members share a dedication to healing, preventing disability, and curing the more than 100 types of arthritis and related disabling and sometimes fatal disorders of the joints, muscles, and bones. Members include practicing physicians, research scientists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers.

About Wiley

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