Rehabilitation Practice and Science
Abstract
Knee osteoarthropathy is a common degenerative joint disorder that can cause pain and functional impairment in affected individuals. Various intra-articular injection therapies have been explored as potential treatments for knee osteoarthropathy, including corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, dextrose and platelet-rich plasma. Intra-articular corticosteroid injection is commonly used for short-term pain relief. Patients with higher baseline pain level and milder changes of degeneration on imaging may benefit more from corticosteroid injection. However, excessive use may lead to detrimental effects on joint tissues. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections have demonstrated positive effects in improving pain and function, as well as delaying the need for total knee replacement. The effects can be sustained for an extended period. Hypertonic dextrose injections may promote tissue repair and improve symptoms, but more research is needed to validate their efficacy. Platelet-rich plasma shows potential tissue growth-promoting effects. However, conflicting study results exist, and current clinical guidelines do not recommend its use due to limited evidence. When performing intra-articular injection, ultrasound-guided techniques have emerged as a superior alternative to landmark-guided methods, with improved accuracy, better clinical outcomes and potential cost-effectiveness.
Recommended Citation
Chang, Alan; Chiu, Yi-Hsiang; Wu, Chueh-Hung; and Wang, Tyng-Guey
(2023)
"Intra-articular Injection Therapy in Knee Osteoarthropathy: a Narrative Review,"
Rehabilitation Practice and Science: Vol. 2023:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6315/3005-3846.2226
Available at:
https://rps.researchcommons.org/journal/vol2023/iss2/1
