Dr. Waddell of Orthopedic Specialists of Louisiana and a Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport, will present findings of one study that shows viscosupplementation is safe and effective for patients with advanced osteoarthritis. The other presentation is based upon a second study that documents a significant delay in the need for total knee replacement in many patients who receive the knee injection therapy.
His presentations will be delivered at the American College of Rheumatology’s Fourth Annual Basic Research Conference entitled “Cartilage and Bone Biology: Implications in the Pathogenesis of Joint Destruction in Arthritis” to be held Nov. 10 -11. Both studies will be published in the official journal of the American College of Rheumatology, Arthritis and Rheumatism.
Dr. Waddell studied the pain relief provided by the injections. In simplest terms, the injections replace fluid needed to lubricate the knee joint, which restores shock absorbing and pain protection properties lost to the disease of osteoarthritis. His research went beyond the basic injection therapy results by analyzing the effectiveness of repeat injection therapy over time and how repeat injections can delay or eliminate the need for total knee replacements.
“The presentation of research done in a retrospective study shows that repeat viscosupplementation is safe and effective in treating pain of osteoarthritis for individuals with advanced-stage osteoarthritis of the knee,” said Dr. Waddell.
He studied the results of almost 600 patients who underwent knee injection therapy from November 1997 through February 2000. Study results of repeat knee injection therapy, which has not previously been studies or reported, showed a significant reduction in pain for osteoarthritis patients. Citing the second study, which involved 1,235 patients, Dr. Waddell said, “We’ve found that the use of viscosupplementation in people with advanced stage osteoarthritis has also been shown to significantly decrease their risk of total knee replacement.”