title: [Therapy of articular and periarticular pain with local anesthetics (neural therapy of Huneke). Long and short term results].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of the outcomes on the articular and periarticular pain of the knee, by a reflexotherapy with local anesthetics, denominated also neuraltherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective observational study with 3 years' follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Ambulatory Center for Pain Management.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the patients (N = 115) with knee pain treated with neuraltherapy in the period 1982-31 August 1996 (retired patients 2, mean age 68 +/- 15.2 years in the remaining).
  
  
  METHODS
  The employed reflexotherapy, denominated also neuraltherapy by Huneke, uses a local anesthetic (prevalently lidocaine) in 0.5-1% concentration and small quantity (0.5-1 ml for point) on tender/trigger and/or acupuncture points, as well as in anatomical structures like articulations, nerves, arteries or veins. The number of sessions has been of 7.03 +/- 3.3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcomes are evaluated in terms of percentage subjective improvement of the pain at the end of the therapy and at 1-3-6 months, 1-2-3 years, and then divided in 5 groups (no improvement-fair-good-very good-excellent).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the therapy the improven cases were the 91.2%, the 83.7% at 1 month, the 64.6% at 3 months, the 41.3% at 6 months, the 22.5% at 1 year, the 12.1% at 2 years and the 7.9% at 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These outcomes suggest a good effectiveness of this treatment in the painful diseases of the knee, but further randomised double-blind trials are necessary.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barbagli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bollettin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local
vernacular_title: Terapia del dolore articolare e periarticolare del ginocchio con anestetici locali (neuralterapia sec. Huneke). Risultati a breve a lunga distanza.