Tramadol iontophoresis added to treatment of knee osteoarthritis Turkish Journal of Rheumatology, 01/06/2011

Turhanoglu AD et al. – The objective of the present study was to investigate whether tramadol iontophoresis added to therapy is superior to the therapy methods alone (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), hot pack, ultrasound, and exercise therapy) in patients with knee OA. The authors conclude that tramadol iontophoresis added to physical therapy may be useful for relieving pain of knee OA during the treatment period.

• total of 72 patients who admitted to the outpatient clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation were included in this study
• The diagnosis was based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for knee OA
• Patients randomly separated into 2 groups
• Group 1 received physical therapy and Group 2 received tramadol iontophoresis in addition to therapy for period of 2 weeks
• Patients evaluated according to pain and functional capacity assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) before therapy and following 10th session, and at 1 and 3 months

• Mean age and duration of knee pain were 58.53±8.38, 5.00±2.66 years in the control group and 58.15±7.70, 4.71±2.70 years in the tramadol iontophoresis group
• No significant differences between groups in mean age and duration of knee pain, BMI, VAS and WOMAC scores before therapy
• Following 10th session, and after 1 and 3 months, VAS and WOMAC scores significantly decreased in both groups when compared with baseline values (p<0.001)
• VAS scores significantly lower in tramadol iontophoresis group compared to controls following 10th session (p<0.001)
• No significant difference found between WOMAC scores of tramadol iontophoresis and control groups (p>0.05)