Pos0689 genicular nerve block in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundGenicular nerve block (GNB) showed promising results in improving pain, function, and inflammation in adults with rheumatoid arthritis suffering from persistent knee arthritis (1).ObjectivesThis study aimed at testing the effect of GNB in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients with unilateral persistent knee arthritis on pain, function, range of motion, and inflammation parameters.MethodsN=104 JIA patients diagnosed according to the ILAR criteria with persistent unilateral knee arthritis. They were assigned randomly into two groups; group I received nerve block, group II received intra-articular triamcinolone. Visual analogue scale, SOLAR scoring system, and Lysholm scores were assessed at 0, 2, and 12 weeks intervals. Tenderness and swelling were evaluated by a semi-quantitative score at the same intervals.ResultsVAS, tenderness, swelling, and SLOAR scores were significantly decreased after 2 weeks of interventions in both groups, but this reduction was greater in GNB group regarding VAS and tenderness, while was greater in steroid group regarding SOLAR and swelling. At 12 weeks, all these outcome measures revealed better values in GNB group in comparison to steroid group, but this was significant only for VAS. Moreover, Lysholm score was significantly increased in both groups at 2 and 12 weeks intervals with higher values in steroid group versus GNB group at 2 weeks.ConclusionNerve block was able to control pain, improve function and inflammation outcome measures of the knee joint in JIA patients. Although steroid achieved better results after 2 weeks, GNB achieved a better long-term improvement after 12 weeks.Figure 1.References[1]AM Elsaman, A Maaty, and A Hamed, ‘Genicular Nerve Block in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial’, Clinical Rheumatology, 40 (2021), 4501-09.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared