Genicular Nerve Block for Knee Osteoarthritis

Objectives: Genicular nerve block (GNB) has emerged as novel non-surgical therapy for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). The objective was to evaluate GNB versus placebo and other intraarticular (IA) therapies. Methods: The Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched from their inception to January 2021. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. A random-effects model and the generic inverse variance method were used for quantitative data synthesis. Heterogeneity was tested with the I 2 index. Results: Regarding pain a statistically significant scores were demonstrated at 1 and 3 months overall total effect of 1.43 [95% CI, 0.86, 1.99]; P=0.00001 ; I 2 =85%). Similarly, for knee function a total effect of 0.71 [95% CI, 0.35, 1.06]; P=0.00001 ; I 2 =69%) at 1 and 3 months, statistically significant. The minimal clinical important difference regarding pain was achieved at 1 and 3 months. Discussion: Nevertheless, GNB achieved the MCID for knee OA pain and statistically significant results for knee functions. We cannot recommend its routine use besides being a safe procedure so far, evidence is fair on GNB for primary knee OA due to study heterogeneity and limited follow-up.