Research Article
Shaw-Ruey Lyu
Abstract
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a main cause of disability in the elderly population. Although there are a number of treatments that can help ease symptoms, there is, as yet, no cure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preliminary outcome of a multidisciplinary management option based on studies of medial abrasion syndrome (MAS) as a cause of knee OA. Methods: Over a period of one year 520 patients were enrolled into this study, between them having 862 knees at different stages of OA. There were 127 males (24.4%) and 393 females (75.6%). The mean age of these patients was 65 years (SD: 10). An integrated protocol for the treatment of knee OA, based on the findings of research into MAS, which we call the “knee health promotion option (KHPO)”, was implemented for these patients. For this preliminary report, subjective satisfaction was assessed after follow-up at one year. Results: After one year, 511 patients with 844 affected knees (97.9%) remained enrolled in the study. The mean age of these patients at the time of surgery was 64 years (SD: 10). Subjective assessment was satisfactory in 794 (94.1%) knees. Six-hundred-and-fifty-seven knees (77.8%) of 379 patients received an arthroscopic cartilage regeneration facilitating procedure (ACRFP), 71 knees (8.4%) of 70 patients received unicompartmental arthroplasty (UKA), and 116 knees (13.8%) of 116 patients received total knee arthroplasty (TKA). For the arthroplasty group, the subjective assessment was satisfactory in 187 knees (100%). For the ACRFP group, the subjective assessment was satisfactory in 607 knees (92.4%). In the ACRFP group, the satisfactory rate was 91.2% for 228 stage II knees, 93.6% for 327 stage III knees, and 91.2% for 102 stage IV knees. Three knees in the stage IV group had converted to arthroplasy after the minimum follow-up of one year. Conclusions: According to this preliminary report, KHPO targeting on the MAS as a cause of knee OA could provide patients with a high degree of treatment satisfaction. Further studies are mandatory to investigate their long-term outcomes.