ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the incidence of biopsy proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) in South Australia. Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven GCA were identified from pathology reports of temporal artery biopsies at state-based pathology laboratories, from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020. Incidence rates for biopsy-proven GCA were calculated using Australian Bureau of Statistics data for South Australian population sizes by age, sex, and calendar year. Seasonality was analyzed by cosinor analysis. Results: There were 181 cases of biopsy-proven GCA. The median age at diagnosis of GCA was 76 years (IQR 70, 81), 64% were female. The estimated population incidence for people over 50 was 5.4 (95% CI 4.7, 6.1) per 100,000-person years. The female: male incidence ratio was 1.6 (95% CI 1.2, 2.2). There was no ordinal trend in GCA incidence rates by calendar year (p = 0.29). The incidence was, on average, highest in winter, but not significantly (p = 0.35). A cosinor analysis indicated no seasonal effect (p = 0.52). Conclusion: The incidence of biopsy-proven GCA remains low in Australia. A higher incidence was noted compared to an earlier study. However, differences in ascertainment and methods of GCA diagnosis may have accounted for the change.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block (GNB) for the management of knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: We performed a 12-week parallel-group, placebo-controlled randomized trial of GNB. Within 2 weeks of randomization, patients with knee osteoarthritis in the active arm received 3 injections of 5.7 mg celestone chronodose (1 ml) and 0.5% bupivacaine (3 ml) to the inferomedial, superomedial, and superolateral genicular nerves; patients with knee osteoarthritis in the placebo arm received injections of normal saline. At baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12, patients recorded their pain and disability on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) (the primary outcome measure), the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain scale. Statistical significance was set at a 2-sided Type I error of α = 0.0125 for comparisons at each of the 4 time points. We used a global perceived effect scale to measure patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The 59 patients (36 female, 23 male) who completed the trial had a mean ± SD age of 68.2 ± 8.6 years. Patients in the active group reported improvements in pain scores at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks with a diminution of the effect over time. VAS scores at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 in the active group (n = 31) versus placebo group (n = 28) were 6.2 versus 5.3 (P = 0.294), 2.7 versus 4.7 (P < 0.001), 3.2 versus 5.1 (P < 0.001), 3.9 versus 4.9 (P < 0.001), and 4.6 versus 5.1 (P = 0.055), respectively. Total WOMAC scores at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 in the active group versus the placebo group were 54.5 versus 48.1 (P = 0.177), 32.9 versus 44.4 (P < 0.001), 33.7 versus 45.8 (P < 0.001), 39.2 versus 44.8 (P = 0.001), and 42.65 versus 45.1 (P = 0.012), respectively. CONCLUSION: GNB offers short-term pain relief for knee osteoarthritis.
Subject(s)
Nerve Block , Osteoarthritis, Knee , Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy , Osteoarthritis, Knee/drug therapy , Pain Management , Treatment Outcome , Pain , Double-Blind MethodSubject(s)
Amyloidosis/complications , Cardiomyopathies/etiology , Heart Failure/etiology , Joint Diseases/etiology , Aged , Amyloidosis/blood , Amyloidosis/diagnosis , Arthrography , Biomarkers/blood , Biopsy , Cardiomyopathies/blood , Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis , Finger Joint/diagnostic imaging , Finger Joint/physiopathology , Heart Failure/blood , Heart Failure/diagnosis , Humans , Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains/blood , Joint Diseases/blood , Joint Diseases/diagnosis , Joint Diseases/physiopathology , Knee Joint/diagnostic imaging , Knee Joint/physiopathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , MaleABSTRACT
AIM: To assess the outcomes for patients seen in a rheumatology service presenting with features of the greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) and the impact of imaging results on the outcomes of treatment. METHODS: Retrospective audit, using a phone interview was performed to establish links between results of imaging undertaken in the diagnostic work-up of patients with lateral hip pain and clinical outcomes for these patients. Patient perceptions of the effectiveness of interventions were also assessed. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were included (82% female, mean age 69.6 years). Sixty-nine percent underwent radiological work-up, including plain X-rays (55%), computed tomography scans (64%), magnetic resonance imaging (48%) and ultrasound (90%). Coexistent trochanteric bursitis (TB) and gluteal tendinopathy were the most commonly elucidated pathologies accounting for the symptomatic presentation of 40% of patients. Forty-one patients underwent some form of intervention, most commonly injection of local anesthetic and corticosteroid (LACS) into the region of the TB (87%), two-thirds of which were undertaken under radiological guidance. Pain reduction was maximal following the third injection, with a significantly better response to unguided interventions and levels of symptomatic relief following the first injection being a good indicator of the probability of complete remission. Radiological demonstration of isolated TB correlated with a greater reduction in lateral hip symptoms following LACS TB injections both in the immediate post-injection phase and in the long-term. CONCLUSION: The results of this audit suggest that the management of GTPS has reasonable patient outcomes; however, a prospective study with greater patient numbers is needed to confirm these results.