title: Clinical characteristics of pain originating from intra-articular structures of the knee joint in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although disease progression of osteoarthritis has been well documented, pain pathophysiology is largely unknown. This study was designed with two purposes: 1) to characterize patients with knee pain predominantly originating from intra-articular structures and 2) to describe the location and pattern of their pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  103 patients with medial knee osteoarthritis underwent an intra-articular injection of local anesthetics (joint block). At least 70% pain relief was defined as positive for the joint block, while less than 50% as negative. Pain characteristics in patients positive for joint block were evaluated in detail using a knee pain map.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty three knees (61%) were positive and 33 knees (32%) were negative. Patients negative for the joint block were significantly higher age, suffered for longer time, and complained more diffuse pain. Although pain at anterior medial area during walk was the most common finding, pain characteristics differed among different knee areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characteristics of joint pain are widely variable even in patients with similar radiological features. Extra-articular sources are not negligible especially in older patients with a long history of diffuse pain. Differences in pain characteristics among knee areas should be taken into account when examining the pain source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505 Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505 Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505 Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aso
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505 Japan.
authors.forename: Natsuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505 Japan.
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tani
keywords: Knee; Osteoarthritis; Pain