Biomechanical and Clinical Assessment of Hip Nerve Block in Unilateral Osteoarthrosis

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Abstract
This paper combines a biomechanical analysis with a clinical assessment of eighteen patients with unilateral hip osteoarthrosis. A double blind trial was established to evaluate the potential of a regional hip nerve block in relieving pain. The characteristics of the vertical ground-reaction forces were analysed using two Kistler force plates, once before the injection and at three-monthly intervals following it. At the same time pain, mobility and functional activity were assessed clinically. A significant change in some of the gait parameters for the good leg was recorded for the total patient group one month after the injection. However, no further significant differences were found. When the symmetry of gait was evaluated no significant differences at the 1 per cent level were observed at any period. These results suggest that gait symmetry is not a significant factor in assessment of patients with hip osteoarthrosis. There was a transient decrease in subjective pain level following the injection, but this rose to pre-injection levels by the fourth week. There were no other significant general improvements after the injection. It is concluded that the biomechanical/clinical assessment has demonstrated that the hip nerve block does not provide any useful long-term pain relief.

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