The use of needle lavage in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee does not lead to measurable improvements in pain, function, 50-foot walking time, stiffness, tenderness or swelling.

Conditions: Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)

Procedures: Needle Lavage

Sources

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (non-arthroplasty): Full guideline. 2008 Dec [cited 2014 Feb 20]. (PDF)
• Arden NK, Reading IC, Jordan KM, Thomas L, Platten H, Hassan A, et al. A randomised controlled trial of tidal irrigation vs corticosteroid injection in knee osteoarthritis: The KIVIS study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Jun;16(6):733-9. (PubMed)
• 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 Jan;46(1):100-8. (PubMed)
• Chang RW, Falconer J, Stulberg SD, Arnold WJ, Manheim LM, Dyer AR. A randomized, controlled trial of arthroscopic surgery versus closed-needle joint lavage for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Arthritis Rheum. 1993 Mar;36(3):289-96. (PubMed)
• Dawes PT, Kirlew C, Haslock I. Saline washout for knee osteoarthritis: Results of a controlled study. Clin Rheumatol. 1987 Mar;6(1):61-3. Ike RW, Arnold WJ, Rothschild EW, Shaw HL. Tidal irrigation versus conservative medical management in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: A prospective randomized study. Tidal Irrigation Cooperating Group. J Rheumatol. 1992 May;19(5):772-9. (PubMed)
• Richmond J, Hunter D, Irrgang J, Jones MH, Levy B, Marx R, et al. Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (nonarthroplasty). J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2009 Sep;17(9):591-600. (PubMed)
• 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 May;84(5):634-7. (PubMed)