Don’t use needle lavage to treat patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee for long-term relief.

The use of needle lavage in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee does not lead to measurable improvements in pain, function, 50-foot walking time, stiffness, tenderness or swelling.

 

Sources:

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (non-arthroplasty): Full guideline [Internet]. 2008 Dec [cited 2014 Feb 20].

Arden NK, et al. A randomised controlled trial of tidal irrigation vs corticosteroid injection in knee osteoarthritis: The KIVIS study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Jun;16(6):733-9. PMID: 18077189.

Bradley JD, et al. Tidal irrigation as treatment for knee osteoarthritis: A sham-controlled, randomized, double-blinded evaluation. Arthritis Rheum. 2002 Jan;46(1):100-8. PMID: 11817581.

Chang RW, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of arthroscopic surgery versus closed-needle joint lavage for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Rheum. 1993 Mar;36(3):289-96. PMID: 8452573.

Dawes PT, et al. Saline washout for knee osteoarthritis: Results of a controlled study. Clin Rheumatol. 1987 Mar;6(1):61-3. PMID: 3581699.

Ike RW, et al. Tidal irrigation versus conservative medical management in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A prospective randomized study. Tidal Irrigation Cooperating Group. J Rheumatol. 1992 May;19(5):772-9. PMID: 1613709.

Richmond J, et al. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (nonarthroplasty). J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2009 Sep;17(9):591-600. PMID: 19726743.

Vad VB, et al. Management of knee osteoarthritis: Knee lavage combined with hylan versus hylan alone. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2003 May;84(5):634-7. PMID: 12736873.