title: The efficacy of intra-articular lidocaine administration in chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intra-articular injections for the treatment of knee pain due to osteoarthritis are performed when conservative therapies have failed. The intra-articular injection of lidocaine may be an effective treatment modality due to its neuronal membrane-stabilizing effect and long-lasting anti-inflammatory action. In this study, we compared the efficacy of intra-articular 0.5% lidocaine versus saline injection on pain, stiffness and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I (n=26) received 7mL 0.5% lidocaine and group II (n=26) received 7mL saline into the painful knee for a series of three injections spaced by 1 week intervals under ultrasound guidance. Knee pain was measured with a numeric rating score (NRS) at baseline and 3 months after the 3rd injection. WOMAC scales, including pain (WOMAC-P), stiffness (WOMAC-S) and physical function (WOMAC-F), were assessed and recorded at baseline, 30minutes after the 1st injection, immediately prior to the 2nd and 3rd injections and 3 months after the 3rd injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic data were comparable between groups. The NRS after 3 months was significantly lower in group I (P=0.001). The WOMAC-P, immediately prior to the 3rd injection and 3 months afterwards, was significantly lower in group I (P=0.006, P=0.001, respectively). The WOMAC-S was improved prior to the 3rd injection and sustained until 3 months in group I (P=0.035, P=0.004, respectively). The WOMAC-F was improved after the 1st injection and sustained until 3 months in group I (P=0.002, P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-articular 0.5% lidocaine injection under ultrasound guidance has a potential role in the management of chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis for a 3-month period.
authors.affiliation: Baskent university, faculty of medicine, department of anaesthesiology and reanimation, discipline of pain medicine, Adana teaching and medical research centre, Dadaloglu Mahallesi, no. 4/A, Serinevler 2591 sk., 01250 Yuregir/Adana, Turkey. Electronic address: evreneker@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: H Evren
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Eker
authors.affiliation: Baskent university, faculty of medicine, department of anaesthesiology and reanimation, discipline of pain medicine, Adana teaching and medical research centre, Dadaloglu Mahallesi, no. 4/A, Serinevler 2591 sk., 01250 Yuregir/Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oya Yalcin
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Cok
authors.affiliation: Baskent university, faculty of medicine, department of anaesthesiology and reanimation, discipline of pain medicine, Adana teaching and medical research centre, Dadaloglu Mahallesi, no. 4/A, Serinevler 2591 sk., 01250 Yuregir/Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aribogan
authors.affiliation: Baskent university, faculty of medicine, department of anaesthesiology and reanimation, discipline of pain medicine, Adana teaching and medical research centre, Dadaloglu Mahallesi, no. 4/A, Serinevler 2591 sk., 01250 Yuregir/Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007717:Knee; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine
keywords: Chronic pain; Intra-articular injection; Lidocaine; Osteoarthritis