Rapidly destructive tibiofemoral knee osteoarthritis: clinicoradiological presentation and outcome after global medical treatment including non-arthroscopic joint lavage plus corticosteroid injection. A single center retrolective study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine (i) clinicoradiological presentation and outcome of rapidly destructive knee osteoarthritis (RDKOA) after global medical treatment including knee lavage plus corticosteroid injection, (ii) predisposing factors of subsequent requirement to knee surgery.


METHODS
Retrolective monocenter study with tibiofemoral RDKOA, defined as a loss of at least 50% of joint space width within 1 year, with a post lavage follow-up of at least 1 year.


RESULTS
One hundred and eleven patients were enrolled, age 64.1 years, BMI: 28.9, 70.3% female. VAS pain was 56.1mm, Lequesne index: 11.9, WOMAC function score: 51.9. Chronic mechanical effusion (216 white cells/mm3) was aspirated in 102 patients (91.9%), lasting more than 6 months in 71.4%. Medial tibiofemoral compartment was concerned in 79.3%. Joint space loss reached 52.2% in extension and 71.0% in semi-flexed position within a mean 7.3-month period. Radiological chondrocalcinosis was present in 13.5% and osteonecrosis in 12.6%. Lavage (one liter, two 14-gauge cannulae) plus corticosteroid was completed by hyaluronic acid injections in 71.2% of patients. Eighty-nine patients were reviewed with a mean follow-up period of 55.0 months. Thirty-seven (41.6%) required surgery. Mean delay between lavage and surgery was 16.1 months. Pain was acceptable in 100.0% of operated patients and 87.8% of non-operated patients. Multivariate regression analysis determined that functional impairment, assessed by the maximal walking time, and radiological severity in extension were baseline predisposing factors of subsequent requirement to surgery.


CONCLUSION
The outcome of RDKOA seems less severe than expected after global medical treatment.
['Burki|Vincent|V|', 'Paternotte|Simon|S|', 'Dougados|Maxime|M|', 'Ayral|Xavier|X|']
D000368:Aged D015984:Causality D005260:Female D005938:Glucocorticoids D006801:Humans D006820:Hyaluronic Acid D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee D012189:Retrospective Studies D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation D016896:Treatment Outcome D055675:Viscosupplements
Clinicoradiological presentation Outcome Medical treatment Rapidly destructive knee osteoarthritis