Reductions in pain not linked to synovitis with brace in knee OA

SEATTLE - Patellofemoral joint brace therapy reduced pain in patients with osteoarthritis but did not reduce synovitis as seen on MRI, according to recently presented study findings.

Researchers included 126 patients between the ages of 40 years and 70 years with patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis (OA) in the randomized, clinical trial. Sixty-three of the patients were randomly assigned to treatment with a brace in the affected knee and 63 were randomly assigned to treatment without a brace during the 6-week trial.

Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 6 weeks using dynamic-contrast MRI (DC-MRI) on the affected knee. The enhancement of synovium with contrast, including the maximum rate of enhancement, late relative enhancement, maximum enhancement and volume transfer coefficient, were used to determine dynamic synovial parameters. Additionally, pain was evaluated using the KOOS questionnaire and VAS scores from 0 mm to 100 mm for a nominated physical activity (VASNA).

A significant change in KOOS and VASNA was observed among patients in the treatment group after 6 weeks of using a brace. A slight worsening of synovial dynamics was seen on DC-MRI in the treatment group after 6 weeks; however, this was not considered statistically significant, according to the researchers.

The change in the maximum rate of enhancement between the intervention and control groups was found to be significant, suggesting the reduction in pain was not associated with a change in synovitis, the researchers reported. - by Shirley Pulawski

Reference:

Swaminathan V, et al. Paper #40. Presented at: Osteoarthritis Research Society International World Congress on Osteoarthritis. April 30-May 3, 2015; Seattle.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.