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DOS Kongressen 2016 ·
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6 years minimum followup of an offloading knee brace
for unicompartmental knee arthritis
Paul Lee
ortopedics, The Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Hospital
Background:
Offloading knee braces can provide good short-term pain relief
for some patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis. Their cost is relative-
ly small compared to surgical interventions. However, there has not been any
study reporting their use over five years
Purpose / Aim of Study:
1. Can wearing the offloading brace delay the need
for surgery? 2. is the knee brace a costeffective treatment choicwe?
Materials and Methods:
Prospective data was collected for 63 consecutive
patients who presented with unicompartmental osteoarthritic pain between
2007-2009; after conservative management with painkillers and physiother-
apy, they were offered an offloading knee brace. Patient-reported outcome
measures and radiological assessments were performed yearly and the primary
endpoint was surgical intervention
Findings / Results:
the mean follow up was seven years (6-8). A total of
33.9% (21/62) of patients are still using the offloading brace.There was no
significant radiological progression of disease. 38.1% of patients did not have
surgery in the six to eight years follow up. The average successful patient wore
the brace for 54.9 months. Gender, BMI, age, compartment, or leg did not af-
fect the chance of success. However the longer the patient wore the brace
determined the chance of success. 50% of patients who underwent surgery had
a total knee replacement, 37% a unicompartmental knee replacement, and 13%
a high tibial osteotomy. The EuroQol score showed the brace had a significant
effect on quality of life. The offloader brace gained 0.42 QALY’s. Cost per QALY
is £150.71
Conclusions:
Offloading knee braces are a cost- effective management for
unicompartmental arthritis, which can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, and in-
crease patient’s daily activities. If it can be tolerated for over two years, surgical
intervention is highly unlikely.
No conflicts of interest reported
68.