Studying the way patients with knee osteoarthritis walk and changes to footwear are helping patients under the care of Najia Shakoor, MD, and colleagues take control of their pain and possibly delay disease progression…
Opioids No Better Than NSAIDs for Chronic Back or Arthritis Pain
(Reuters Health)—Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are better than opioids at easing the intensity of chronic pain in the back, knees or hips, a U.S. experiment suggests. And opioids are no better than these other drugs at reducing how much pain interferes with daily activities, such as walking, working, sleeping or enjoying…
Diclofenac Patch, Piroxicam Most Effective Topical NSAIDs for Osteoarthritis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Diclofenac patches appear to be the most effective topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for osteoarthritis (OA), according to a new systematic review and network meta-analysis. “Topical NSAIDs were effective and safe for OA,” Dr. Weiya Zhang of the University of Nottingham and City Hospital in the UK and colleagues write. “However, confirmation…
2017 in Review: Key Findings in Basic Science Highlighted at the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
During the ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, Richard Pope, MD, highlighted some of the top scientific literature on rheumatic disease from 2017. The review session discussed research on the effects of microglia on the central nervous system of SLE patients, the role of adenosine in osteoarthritis and more…
Researchers Examine Lifetime Risk of Total Hip Replacements
Total hip replacement (THR) surgery is an effective way to reduce pain and improve function in people with advanced hip osteoarthritis (OA). In light of aging populations, there’s a need to use contemporary, population-level data to plan for future service provision. In a study designed to compare THR data across countries, researchers demonstrated a significant increase in the overall use of and lifetime risk for THR from 2003 to 2013. Women consistently had a higher lifetime risk of surgery than men in all five countries studied, whereas men in all five countries demonstrated a significant increase in lifetime risk for THR over time…
Varus Thrust Is Associated with Progressive Knee OA
To determine if varus thrust, a bowing out of the knee during gait (i.e., the first appearance or worsening of varus alignment during stance), is associated with incident and progressive knee osteoarthritis (OA), these researchers undertook an Osteoarthritis Initiative ancillary study. They also considered hypothesized associations adjusted for static alignment, anticipating some attenuation. Methods: Gait…
Where OA & Depression Intersect
Pain, limited mobility and lower quality of life—these aspects of living with osteoarthritis may result in severe depression. New research from Alan Rathbun, PhD, MPH, may enable physicians to better understand the intersection of physical and mental health so they can improve overall patient care…
Pain Treatments Move Closer to U.S. Market
Two pain treatments, extended-release injectable suspension triamcinolone acetonide (Zilretta) and meloxicam, have seen movement at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In October, the agency approved Zilretta to treat osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain and accepted a new drug application for meloxicam to treat pain. FDA Approves Zilretta On Oct. 6, the FDA approved extended-release,…
Flexion’s Knee Pain Drug Gets FDA Approval
(Reuters)—Flexion Therapeutics Inc. said its injectable drug to treat osteoarthritis-related knee pain was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The approval comes at a time when U.S. federal authorities are implementing a slew of measures to combat opioid abuse, with President Donald Trump in August declaring the opioid epidemic a national emergency. The…
Hyaluronidase 2 May Play an Important Role in OA Progression
A new study in mice found that Hyal2 deficiency may play a role in the turnover of cartilage hyaluronan, resulting in an accumulation of hyaluronan and, eventually, the development of osteoarthritis. Researchers suspect these results indicate an imbalance in the metabolism of hyaluronan…