Minimally Invasive Interventional Management of Osteoarthritic Chronic Knee Pain

J Knee Surg. 2019 Jan;32(1):72-79. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1676071. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Abstract

Chronic knee pain is a widely prevalent issue that can have a significant impact on a patient's quality of life. One of the leading causes of chronic knee pain is osteoarthritis. Total knee replacement is often the last and definitive resort for patients with severe symptomatic osteoarthritis after trial of less invasive interventions with failure to achieve symptomatic relief. Intra-articular injections are a mainstay of adjunctive conservative management and have demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain. Radiofrequency treatment is a viable option for poor surgical candidates, or for patients having persistent, chronic pain following knee surgery. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is another modality growing in use that may offer short-term symptomatic relief. In this review, we will discuss widely used minimally invasive interventional options for the symptomatic management of osteoarthritic chronic knee pain.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intra-Articular
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / therapy*
  • Platelet-Rich Plasma
  • Radiofrequency Therapy
  • Viscosupplements / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Viscosupplements