Needle Lavage
We cannot suggest that the practitioner use needle lavage for patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee.
MODERATE RECOMMENDATION Rationale
This recommendation is based on one high strength study by Bradley et al.122 and one moderate strength study by Vad et al.123 The evidence showed little or no benefit from needle lavage in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Fourteen of 15 outcomes were not statistically significant, including three pain and three functional outcomes, indicating no measurable benefit to patients from needle lavage.
- (107) Arden NK, Reading IC, Jordan KM et al. A randomised controlled trial of tidal irrigation vs corticosteroid injection in knee osteoarthritis: the KIVIS Study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2008;16(6):733-739. PM:18077189
- (122) Bradley JD, Heilman DK, Katz BP, Gsell P, Wallick JE, Brandt KD. Tidal irrigation as treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a sham-controlled, randomized, double-blinded evaluation. Arthritis Rheum 2002;46(1):100-108. PM:11817581
- (123) Vad VB, Bhat AL, Sculco TP, Wickiewicz TL. Management of knee osteoarthritis: knee lavage combined with hylan versus hylan alone. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84(5):634-637. PM:12736873