Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that affects more than 32 million adults in the United States. Are you one of them? This month, we aim to increase awareness about OA and share insights on its management and treatment options. As we observe Osteoarthritis Awareness Month, we encourage you to learn more about this common condition and the strides being made in its treatment. Campbell Clinic is here to support you with expert care and innovative solutions to help you manage arthritis and improve your quality of life.

Understanding Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. According to the National Institutes of Health, individuals with arthritis “can feel pain and stiffness in their bodies, making it hard to move or causing their joints to become swollen.” The most commonly affected areas include the hands, knees, hips, and spine – impacting daily activities and overall quality of life.

The Campbell Clinic team is dedicated to providing expert care for individuals suffering from various types of arthritis. Our physicians are at the forefront of orthopaedic research and treatment, continually seeking to improve patient outcomes. This awareness month provides an excellent opportunity to highlight our efforts and share valuable information about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of osteoarthritis.

Focus on Knee Osteoarthritis
The knee joint is one of the most frequently affected by osteoarthritis, often leading to significant pain and difficulty in performing everyday tasks. Addressing this issue, Campbell Clinic sports medicine sub-specialist, Dr. Frederick Azar, conducted a pivotal study on the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) injections in treating knee osteoarthritis.

Dr. Azar’s prospective observational study involved 103 patients with knee osteoarthritis who received a series of HA injections. The study yielded several important findings:

• Patient response: Patients with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis who responded positively to the first HA injection were twice as likely to experience a positive outcome from the entire injection series. This was particularly true for patients aged 60 and older.
• Treatment outcomes: Patients who did not respond to the initial injection were more likely to require knee replacement surgery.
• Pain measurement: The visual analog pain score (VAS) was identified as a reliable method for defining and monitoring treatment success.

The study concluded that careful patient selection and thorough counseling could enhance the effectiveness of knee HA injections. By identifying which patients are likely to benefit from this treatment, healthcare providers can tailor their approaches to maximize relief and delay the need for surgical interventions.

The Campbell Clinic Foundation remains committed to advancing orthopaedic care through ongoing research and innovation. Our dedication to understanding and treating osteoarthritis helps ensure that patients receive the most effective treatments available. For more detailed information on Dr. Azar’s study and other orthopaedic research, please visit https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29299652/.