Comparison of the Effect of Genicular Nerve Block and Physical Therapy in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Summary

Knee arthritis is a chronic joint disease that causes pain, disability and impaired quality of life, leading to significant social and health problems worldwide. Moreover, these public and economic impacts related to osteoarthritis of the knee are expected to increase in the future. With the global increase in the proportion of the elderly population, overall obesity rates and the associated incidence of osteoarthritis of the knee, clinicians are now focusing on new treatment strategies. The diagnosis is usually made by history, physical examination and radiography (X-ray) and there is no need for additional examination.

Today, both non-surgical and surgical interventions are used in the treatment of knee arthritis. Non-surgical options include patient education, weight loss, physical therapy (PT), support or foot orthosis, oral painkillers, non-cortisol anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisols, hyaluronic acid, plasma injections rich in platelets, prolotherapy, stem cell therapy and genicular nerve blocks.

The aim of the study was to compare the benefits of genicular nerve block and physical therapy in volunteers with knee pain for more than 3 months like you and to determine the most appropriate method.

In this study, Genicular nerve block and Physical therapy in patients with knee arthritis;

* Effects on knee pain, mobility and functional ability
* It is aimed to examine the effects on equilibrium parameters.

A total of 66 participants will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups by envelope selection method. Your treatment method will be determined according to the treatment method in the envelope you choose.

Conditions

• Knee Osteoarthritis

Interventions

OTHER

Group 1: GNB (GENICULAR NERVOUS NERVOUS BLOCK) group:

6 ml of solution consisting of 5 ml 2% lidocaine hydrochloride and 1 ml 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide will be injected equally into the superomedial, inferomedial and superolateral genicular nerve branches using a 23G (0.6\*60mm) needle under ultrasound guidance.

OTHER

Group 2: PT (PHYSICAL THERAPY) group

Group 2: PT (PHYSICAL THERAPY) group: In the PT group, all interventions will be performed with the patient supine and knees in extension. First, superficial heating will be applied using a hotpack for 20 minutes, followed by therapeutic ultrasound in continuous mode at a frequency of 1 MHz and 1.5 Watt/cm2 for 5 minutes to achieve deep thermal effects. Then traditional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) will be applied for 15 minutes for a total of 15 sessions.

OTHER

Group 3: Exercise group

Group 3: Control group: For 3 weeks, exercise therapy will be applied by the patient. Knee range of motion exercises, quadriceps strengthening exercises, hamstring stretching exercises will be taught to the patients by the doctor and they will be asked to do them every day, 2 times a day, 10 repetitions for a total of 3 weeks. The use of NSAIDs will be restricted during the treatment period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ahi Evran University Education and Research Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hacer I Altay Caglar, ra · Kirsehir Ahi Evran University Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-01

Primary Completion

2026-03-01

Completion

2026-03-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations