Knee
RCT: Once-Weekly Semaglutide Reduces Weight and Knee Osteoarthritis Pain in Obese Patients
16 Nov, 2024 | 13:41h | UTCBackground: Obesity is a major risk factor for the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis, leading to chronic pain and reduced mobility. Weight reduction has been shown to alleviate symptoms, but sustained, non-surgical interventions are limited. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as semaglutide, have demonstrated efficacy in weight management; however, their impact on knee osteoarthritis pain is not well established.
Objective: To assess the efficacy of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (2.4 mg) versus placebo, alongside lifestyle interventions, on body weight reduction and pain related to knee osteoarthritis in adults with obesity.
Methods: In this 68-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 61 sites across 11 countries, 407 adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) and moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were enrolled. Participants were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive semaglutide or placebo, in addition to counseling on a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The primary endpoints were the percentage change in body weight and the change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score from baseline to week 68.
Results: Semaglutide treatment resulted in a mean weight reduction of −13.7% compared to −3.2% with placebo (P<0.001). The mean change in WOMAC pain score was −41.7 points with semaglutide versus −27.5 points with placebo (P<0.001), indicating a significant reduction in pain. Additionally, semaglutide led to greater improvements in physical function scores and a decrease in the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Serious adverse events were similar between groups; however, gastrointestinal disorders led to more discontinuations in the semaglutide group (6.7% vs. 3.0%).
Conclusions: Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide significantly reduces body weight and alleviates pain related to knee osteoarthritis in obese adults, compared to placebo, when combined with lifestyle modifications. These findings support semaglutide as an effective non-surgical intervention for weight management and symptom relief in this population.
Implications for Practice: Semaglutide may be considered as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy for obese patients with knee osteoarthritis, potentially improving pain, physical function, and reducing reliance on analgesics. Clinicians should weigh the benefits against potential gastrointestinal side effects.
Study Strengths and Limitations: Strengths include the randomized, double-blind design and a sizable, diverse cohort. Limitations involve the absence of imaging follow-up, lack of metabolic and inflammatory marker assessments, and no post-treatment outcome data to evaluate the sustainability of benefits after discontinuation.
Future Research: Further studies are warranted to explore the long-term effects of semaglutide on knee osteoarthritis progression, its mechanisms of action on joint pathology, and its effectiveness in broader patient populations.
Meta-Analysis: Spinal Cord Stimulation May Be Effective for Chronic Back and Leg Pain
15 Nov, 2024 | 13:43h | UTCBackground: Chronic back and leg pain causes significant disability worldwide. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) offers treatment for patients unresponsive to conventional medical management (CMM). The comparative efficacy of conventional and novel SCS forms versus CMM is debated, requiring thorough evaluation.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of conventional and novel SCS therapies compared with CMM in adults with chronic back or leg pain who had not previously used SCS.
Methods: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis per PRISMA guidelines were performed. MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to September 2, 2022. Thirteen RCTs with 1,561 patients were included. Interventions were conventional SCS, novel SCS modalities (e.g., high-frequency, burst stimulation), and CMM. Primary outcomes were pain intensity (visual analog scale) and responder rates (≥50% pain relief) in back or leg. Secondary outcomes were quality of life (EQ-5D index) and functional disability (Oswestry Disability Index).
Results: At 6 months, both conventional and novel SCS were superior to CMM in five of six outcomes. For back pain responder rates, conventional SCS had an OR of 3.00 (95% CrI, 1.49–6.72) and novel SCS had an OR of 8.76 (95% CrI, 3.84–22.31) versus CMM. Pain intensity in the back decreased significantly with conventional SCS (MD, –1.17; 95% CrI, –1.64 to –0.70) and novel SCS (MD, –2.34; 95% CrI, –2.96 to –1.73). Leg pain intensity also decreased significantly with conventional SCS (MD, –2.89; 95% CrI, –4.03 to –1.81) and novel SCS (MD, –4.01; 95% CrI, –5.31 to –2.75) compared to CMM. Quality of life improved with both SCS therapies (conventional SCS MD, 0.15; 95% CrI, 0.09–0.21; novel SCS MD, 0.17; 95% CrI, 0.13–0.21). Functional disability improved significantly with conventional SCS (MD, –7.10; 95% CrI, –10.91 to –3.36).
Conclusions: Both conventional and novel SCS therapies are associated with significant improvements in pain relief, quality of life, and functional ability compared with CMM in patients with chronic back and leg pain at 6 months.
Implications for Practice: The results support integrating SCS therapies into clinical practice for patients with chronic back and leg pain unresponsive to CMM.
Study Strengths and Limitations: Strengths include inclusion of recent RCTs and use of Bayesian network meta-analysis, allowing comprehensive evidence synthesis with both direct and indirect comparisons, enhancing reliability. Limitations involve potential biases due to challenges in blinding participants and assessors, as patients can perceive whether a device is active. Heterogeneity among studies in patient populations and interventions may affect generalizability. Inability to include long-term efficacy data due to crossover in many trials limits understanding of sustained outcomes.
Future Research: Long-term RCTs are needed to assess sustained efficacy and safety of SCS therapies. Future studies should compare different SCS modalities directly and identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit.
Systematic Review: Antidepressants Offer Limited Pain Relief with Potential Harms in Older Adults
17 Sep, 2024 | 11:34h | UTCBackground: Chronic pain is prevalent among older adults and significantly affects their quality of life. Antidepressants are commonly prescribed for pain management in this population across various countries. While several systematic reviews have evaluated the efficacy and safety of antidepressants for pain in adults, none have specifically focused on individuals aged 65 years and older. The efficacy and safety profile of antidepressants for pain relief in older adults remains unclear.
Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of antidepressant medications compared to all alternatives for the management of non-cancer pain in older adults aged 65 years and above.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted. Thirteen databases were searched from inception to February 1, 2024, to identify relevant studies. Trials included compared any antidepressant medication to any alternative (e.g., placebo, other medications, or non-drug therapies) for the treatment of non-cancer pain in older adults. Data extracted included study and participant characteristics, primary efficacy outcomes (pain scores converted to a 0–100 scale), and harms. Estimates for efficacy were pooled using a random-effects model and reported as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The quality of included trials was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.
Results: Fifteen studies encompassing 1,369 participants met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently studied antidepressants were duloxetine and amitriptyline (six studies each). Pain related to knee osteoarthritis was the most commonly studied condition (six studies). For knee osteoarthritis:
- Immediate Term (0–2 weeks): Antidepressants did not provide a statistically significant reduction in pain compared to alternatives (mean difference [MD], –5.6; 95% CI, –11.5 to 0.3).
- Intermediate Term (≥6 weeks and <12 months): Duloxetine provided a statistically significant, albeit very small, reduction in pain (MD, –9.1; 95% CI, –11.8 to –6.4).
Nearly half of the studies (7 out of 15) reported increased withdrawal of participants in the antidepressant treatment group compared to the comparator group due to adverse events.
Conclusions: For most chronic painful conditions in older adults, the benefits and harms of antidepressant medications are unclear. The available evidence predominantly comes from trials with small sample sizes (less than 100 participants), disclosed industry ties, and trials classified as having unclear or high risk of bias.
Implications for Practice:
- Minimal Benefit: Antidepressants, particularly duloxetine, may offer a very small benefit for pain relief in older adults with knee osteoarthritis over the intermediate term.
- Risk of Harms: The potential harms, including increased adverse events leading to higher withdrawal rates, may outweigh these minimal benefits.
- Clinical Decision-Making: Clinicians should carefully weigh the benefits against the risks when considering prescribing antidepressants for pain in older adults.
- Alternative Strategies: Non-pharmacological interventions and alternative pain management strategies should be prioritized in this population.
Study Strengths and Limitations: Strengths include the comprehensive search strategy across multiple databases and the focus on older adults, a population often underrepresented in clinical trials. Limitations involve the generally low quality of the included trials, small sample sizes, high risk of bias, and inconsistent reporting of pain outcomes and adverse events among studies.
Future Research: Further large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the efficacy and safety of antidepressants for pain management in older adults. Future studies should also compare antidepressants to non-pharmacological interventions and explore long-term outcomes and optimal dosing regimens in this population.
RCT: Methotrexate Shows Modest Pain Reduction in Knee Osteoarthritis, More Research Needed – Ann Intern Med
18 Aug, 2024 | 18:01h | UTCStudy Design and Population: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of oral methotrexate on 207 participants with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who had persistent knee pain despite prior treatments. Conducted across 15 musculoskeletal clinics in the UK from June 2014 to October 2017, participants were randomly assigned to receive either methotrexate or placebo over a 12-month period.
Main Findings: At 6 months, methotrexate resulted in a modest reduction in knee pain, with a statistically significant difference of 0.79 points on the NRS compared to placebo (95% CI, 0.08 to 1.51; P = 0.030). Small but statistically significant improvements were also noted in knee stiffness and function. However, the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain, and potential side effects of methotrexate warrant caution.
Implications for Practice: While methotrexate may offer some symptomatic relief for patients with knee osteoarthritis who do not respond to standard treatments, the modest reduction in pain and improvement in function observed in this study may not justify its routine use given the potential for significant side effects. The small magnitude of benefit suggests that methotrexate should be considered cautiously and only in select patients. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings and to better understand the risk-benefit profile of methotrexate in this population before broader clinical adoption.
Podcast | Knee pain pearls
9 Aug, 2023 | 15:08h | UTC#406 Kneedful Things: Knee Pain 201 with Dr. Ted Parks – The Curbsiders
Exploratory Analysis of a RCT | Low-dose colchicine linked to reduced incidence of knee and hip replacements
7 Jun, 2023 | 13:50h | UTCAssociation of Low-Dose Colchicine With Incidence of Knee and Hip Replacements: Exploratory Analyses From a Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: Low dose colchicine associated with lower incidence of total knee and hip replacements – American College of Physicians
RCT | No significant differences among three exercise strategies for knee osteoarthritis
23 May, 2023 | 12:38h | UTC
Cohort Study | Patients with joint hypermobility at greater risk of second ACL injury post-surgery within a year of return to sport
18 May, 2023 | 13:33h | UTCEvidence-based recommendations | Mid- to late-term follow-up of primary hip and knee arthroplasty
16 May, 2023 | 14:57h | UTC
Consensus Paper | Diagnosis and antimicrobial treatment for infections post-ACL reconstruction
16 May, 2023 | 14:46h | UTC
M-A | Medial–lateral versus lateral-only pinning fixation in children with displaced supracondylar humeral fractures
16 May, 2023 | 14:32h | UTC
M-A | Postoperative clinical outcomes for kinematically, restricted kinematically, or mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty
15 May, 2023 | 13:04h | UTC
M-A | Surgical interventions for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis
12 May, 2023 | 13:26h | UTC
Plasma D-Dimer may be useful in the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection
29 Mar, 2023 | 12:33h | UTCPlasma D-Dimer Is Noninferior to Serum C-Reactive Protein in the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection – The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: D-dimer blood test shows value in detecting prosthetic joint infections – Wolters Kluwer
RCT | Short-term indwelling foley catheters do not reduce the risk of postoperative urinary retention in THA and TKA
22 Mar, 2023 | 13:14h | UTCShort-Term Indwelling Foley Catheters Do Not Reduce the Risk of Postoperative Urinary Retention in Uncomplicated Primary THA and TKA: A Randomized Controlled Trial – The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Review | Evidence-based informed consent form for total knee arthroplasty
17 Mar, 2023 | 12:58h | UTC
RCT | Intra-articular 10 mg triamcinolone acetonide non-inferior to 40 mg for knee osteoarthritis pain relief
16 Mar, 2023 | 12:55h | UTC
M-A | Comparison of suture button and syndesmotic screw for ankle syndesmotic injuries
1 Mar, 2023 | 13:50h | UTC
SR | Surgical versus non‐surgical interventions for treating patellar dislocation
1 Mar, 2023 | 13:45h | UTCSurgical versus non‐surgical interventions for treating patellar dislocation – Cochrane Library
Guideline | Exercise-based knee and anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention
15 Feb, 2023 | 16:02h | UTC
Guideline for management of septic arthritis in native joints
10 Feb, 2023 | 14:00h | UTC
Guideline | Management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries
8 Feb, 2023 | 12:31h | UTCRelated:
M-A | Primary surgery vs. primary rehabilitation for treating anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
A Majority of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Can Be Prevented by Injury Prevention Programs: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Cluster–Randomized Controlled Trials With Meta-analysis – American Journal of Sports Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Guideline on rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
8 Feb, 2023 | 12:30h | UTCGuideline: Management of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline
Commentary on Twitter
What are the components of #rehabilitation after #ACLR? Clinical practice #guideline based on 140 RCTs and agreement by 29 expert clinicians.
Open access 🔓 https://t.co/cnLpV0rzgG#Recommendations 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/Lyxuz5tVZE— Roula Kotsifaki (@RoulaKotsifaki) February 3, 2023
M-A | Comparative efficacy of exercise therapy and oral NSAIDs and paracetamol for knee or hip osteoarthritis
1 Feb, 2023 | 13:28h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Network meta-analysis of 152 RCTs (17431 pts) comparing efficacy of exercise therapy, NSAIDs, Tylenol for knee or hip osteoarthritis: Found all 3 equivalent at 4 wk, 8 wk and 24 wks. https://t.co/rKck2AacL4 pic.twitter.com/YEAMh9UxTs
— Dr. John Cush (@RheumNow) January 10, 2023
M-A | Continuous cryotherapy vs. traditional cryotherapy after total knee arthroplasty
1 Feb, 2023 | 13:07h | UTC