Patellofemoral brace improves outcomes for patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis

PHILADELPHIA — A patellofemoral brace improved pain and symptom scores for patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis, according to research presented here at the Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress.

“At 12 weeks, patellofemoral brace significantly improved pain and symptoms in painful patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis,” Michael Callaghan, PhD, of the University of Manchester, England, said.

In the study, researchers fitted 126 patients with patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis with a Bioskin Patellar Tracking Q Brace (Ossur, Manchester, England) and followed up with the patients 12 weeks later. The primary outcome measure was VAS pain scale during nominal aggravating activities, including stair ascent and descent, squatting, kneeling and slope walking. Other outcome measures included the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain, function and quality of life subscales.

Michael Callaghan

The researchers randomized patients to two groups of either a brace or no brace. The mean age of the patients was 55 years old and the mean body mass index was 29.75. The average VAS score was 68 and the KOOS scores improved at 12 weeks, according to Callaghan.

“If instruments like KOOS or WOMAC, which include ratings for knee pain during activities unrelated to the patellofemoral joint, had been used as the primary outcome in this trial, the efficacy of the brace would have appeared diminished,” the authors wrote in the abstract.

Reference:

Callaghan M. Paper #31. Presented at: Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress; April 18-21, 2013; Philadelphia.

Disclosure: Orthopedics Today was unable to confirm disclosures at press time.