Understanding Pain Mechanisms in Knee Osteoarthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is there a difference in the analgesic response to intra-articular bupivacaine injection in people with knee osteoarthritis pain with or without central sensitisation?: a feasibility randomised controlled trial
IRAS ID
270642
Contact name
Brigitte Scammell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 31 days
Research summary
Understanding pain mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Approximately 20% of adults aged over 45 years in England are diagnosed with knee OA. Pain is the defining symptom which has a substantial impact on quality of life. Nearly 100,000 total knee replacement (TKR) operations are performed annually in UK. One of the principal aims of performing TKR is to alleviate pain. Nevertheless, persistent postoperative pain is reported by more than 20% of patients.
Knee pain severity often differs between patients who have the same degree of joint damage. This suggests that other factors influence the pain severity experienced by the patient. Amongst these factors is the alteration in pain processing by the brain, known as central sensitization. Although there are a few potential tools to measure central sensitization, there is no easy test that can confirm it.
Therefore, there is a need to investigate how knee OA pain is processed to help shape novel treatment plans. In this feasibility randomised controlled trial, we propose to explore the links between knee pain and the brain in knee OA patients with self-reported chronic knee pain in preparation for a future definitive trial. We will use brain and knee MRI scans, and other experimental approaches. This will offer a step forward in the knowledge of chronic pain in knee OA which may enable individualised treatment strategies. This study will be carried out at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, University of Nottingham.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EM/0287
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion