Effectiveness of Superficial Radial Nerve Block on Pain, Function and Quality of Life in Patients With Hand Osteoarthritis: A Prospective, Randomized and Controlled Single-Blind Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided superficial branch of the radial nerve (SBRN) block on pain, function and quality of life in patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA). Patients and methods: In this prospective, randomized and controlled single-blind study, 50 female patients (mean age 59.0±5.1 years; range, 46 to 64 years) diagnosed with HOA were randomized into two groups. Group 1 (n=25) was administered an ultrasound-guided SBRN injection (with a combination of 2 mL 0.25% bupivacaine and 1 mL methylprednisolone acetate) + exercise, while group 2 (n=25) only exercised. Patients were assessed with a Visual Analog Scale for pain, hand grip strength (HGS), finger grip strength (FGS), Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, Duruöz Hand Index and Short-form 12. Data were obtained before treatment (W0), in the second week after treatment (W2) and in the fourth week after treatment (W4). Results: In group 1, a statistically significant improvement was obtained in all parameters at both W2 and W4 compared to the values recorded at W0 (p<0.05). In group 2, a statistically significant improvement was observed only in the parameters of HGS and FGS at W2 and W4 (p<0.05). A comparison of the scores of the two groups showed statistically significant superior improvement in group 1 in all parameters at both W2 and W4 (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of our study showed that an ultrasound-guided SBRN block combined with exercise is a significantly superior treatment to exercise-only regarding the improvements in the parameters of pain, function and quality of life in HOA patients.

Study on the Influencing Factors of Osteoarthritis in Southern China

“…Once suffering from osteoarthritis, patients suffer from joint pain and functional impairment in going up and down the stairs, walking or getting off and getting into a car, and the quality of daily life is significantly reduced, and the physical and mental health of patients are compromised [ 20 , 21 ]. With the continuous improvement of the medical level, more and more patients with osteoarthritis choose to perform total knee arthroplasty, however, related studies have concluded that human work and life pressures are increasing, and this situation also causes some people to have psychological disorders, which, together with osteoarthritis disease, is not conducive to the physical recovery of the patients after total knee arthroplasty, and the clinical treatment effect is not good [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Comparative effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for hand osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials

“…Of the 60 trials included in the network meta-analyses, three comparisons were disconnected from the network ( online supplemental file 7 ). As estimates from network meta-analyses are based on a connected network, comparative effectiveness could not be estimated for topical NSAIDs combined with orthoses, exercise and education versus education, 30 for perineural glucocorticoids and exercise versus exercise, 31 or for oral NSAIDs combined with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate versus glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. 32 However, estimates for the pairwise meta-analysis comparisons are available in online supplemental files 5–6 .…”

Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in the First Dorsal Interosseous Muscle in Patients With Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis Compared to Healthy Controls

“…A component of pain that is increasingly considered in musculoskeletal pathologies is the role of central sensitization. [11][12][13][14] There are available data that support the fact that MTrPs are a persistent peripheral source of nociception contributing to pain propagation and widespread pain. 15 Although the presence of MTrPs has been well defined in the neck and shoulder muscles, no previous study about the prevalence of latent and active MTrPs in patients with the diagnosis of thumb CMC OA has been described.…”

“…Latent MTrPs may potentially provoke the same dysfunctions as active MTrPs except for spontaneous pain. A component of pain that is increasingly considered in musculoskeletal pathologies is the role of central sensitization 11–14. There are available data that support the fact that MTrPs are a persistent peripheral source of nociception contributing to pain propagation and widespread pain 15…”