Evidence-Based interventional approaches for management of knee osteoarthritis: A mini-review

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has a prevalence of 3.5% inSoutheast Asian region. It is associated with pain anddisability, affecting women more than men. Multiple nonsurgicaltreatment options are available for painmanagement including oral analgesics, physicalmodalities, and interventional procedures (intra-articularinjections, and denervation of knee joint). The evidenceregarding various types of interventional proceduresvaries in literature. This mini review aims to present thelatest evidence regarding interventional procedures formanagement of patients with KOA. The interventions canbe broadly classified into Interventions with regenerativepotential (e.g. platelet rich plasma, stem cell injectionsetc) and Interventions without regenerative potential(intra-articular steroid injections, denervation of kneejoint etc). Intra-articular corticosteroids may be used inpatients with KOA for short term relief . Nerve ablationtechniques may provide moderate, short-term pain reliefespecially in advanced KOA, but the evidence is limited.Interventions with regenerative potential like PRP may beeffective in pain relief and function, but there isheterogeneity in studies. Current evidence shows thatMSCs may be promising for KOA, but it is still in anexperimental phase.

Keywords: Platelet-Rich Plasma; Mesenchymal StemCells; Hyaluronic Acid; Botulinum Toxins, Type A; KneeJoint; Rehabilitation; Pain Measurement; Intra-ArticularInjections.