What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a review of studies from the last ten years to evaluate how well various non-surgical treatments work for bone marrow oedema syndrome (BMES) in the hip and knee.
What They Found
The review identified 12 studies involving a total of 351 patients. Among these, 64 patients were treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy across three studies. Other treatments included iloprost (34 patients), bisphosphonates (37 patients), and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) (216 patients). ESWT studies showed that higher intensity and more sessions led to better clinical and radiological results, while iloprost improved pain in hip patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients suffering from bone marrow oedema syndrome, this review indicates that several conservative treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, show promising results. Although treatment approaches are not yet standardised, these findings suggest potential non-surgical options for managing this condition effectively.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation is that the treatment of idiopathic bone marrow oedema is not standardised, making it difficult to reliably compare data from different studies.