Study Comparing Glucocorticoid Injection at Myofascial Trigger Points Versus Joint Cavity Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying chronic musculoskeletal pain CMP, focusing on knee osteoarthritis, a common type of CMP that significantly affects quality of life, especially among older adults. This study compares the long-term effects of glucocorticoid injections at myofascial trigger points MTrPs with complex intra-articular injections in treating knee osteoarthritis. It is a prospective, randomized, controlled, and blinded trial designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy between these two injection methods. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving glucocorticoid injections at MTrPs and the other receiving intra-articular injections in the knee joint cavity. MTrPs injections use a combination of triamcinolone acetonide, lidocaine, and saline, administered directly into trigger points with a 25-gauge needle. The joint cavity injection group receives an intra-articular knee injection with a similar solution. The treatment aims to assess if the simpler MTrPs injection is not less effective than the intra-articular approach. During the study, patients will be followed for two years with assessments at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after treatment. Researchers will record pain intensity using the Numerical Rating Scale NRS, functional status with the WOMAC score, patient-reported changes via the Patient Global Impression of Change PGIC scale, and any adverse reactions. These evaluations will help understand the treatments safety and impact over time, supporting better clinical management for knee osteoarthritis.

Clinical Study of Myofascial Trigger Points(MTrPs) Injection in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis(OA)