Clinical Outcomes of a Pneumatic Unloader Brace for Kellgren –Lawrence Grades 3 to 4 Osteoarthritis: A Minimum 1-Year Follow-Up Study

This study randomized patients who had Kellgren–Lawrence grades 3 to 4 to receive either a pneumatic unloader brace and conventional treatment or conventional treatment alone. The brace cohort comprised 11 patients with a mean age of 55 years (range, 37–70 years). The final matched cohort comprised 25 patients with a mean age of 63 years (range, 41–86 years). The minimum follow-up was 1 year. There was a lower proportion of patients who underwent an eventual TKA in the bracing cohort as compared with the nonbracing cohort (18 vs. 36%). The mean time to TKA was longer in the bracing cohort as compared with the nonbracing cohort (482 vs. 389 days). The proportion of patients who used opioids was similar in both groups (27 vs. 22%). There was a significantly lower number of patients who received injections in the bracing cohort as compared with the nonbracing cohort (46 vs. 83%, p = 0.026). The bracing cohort had received a significantly lower number of injections and a lower rate of subsequent TKA as compared with the nonbracing cohort. The mean time to TKA was also longer among the bracing cohort. These results may demonstrate the potential of this brace to reduce the need for and prolonging the time to TKA. Performing larger prospective randomized studies, with built-in compliance monitors is warranted. This brace may be a valuable adjunct to the current knee OA treatment armamentarium pending further investigation. [...] Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue...

Source: Journal of Knee Surgery - October 16, 2016 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Chughtai, Morad Bhave, Anil Khan, Sabahat Z. Khlopas, Anton Ali, Osman Harwin, Steven F. Mont, Michael A. Tags: Special Focus Section Source Type: research