Abstract
This retrospective
study evaluated the efficacy of targeted nursing interventions in 28 patients
with articular cartilage wear. Patients were divided into intervention group
(n=14) and control group (n=14). The control group received routine nursing,
while the intervention group received additional targeted nursing including
personalized exercise guidance, weight management, pain modulation and dietary
counseling. Primary outcome was the change in Western Ontario and McMaster
Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score at 3 months; secondary outcomes
included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, joint range of motion (ROM) and
patient satisfaction. Results showed significantly greater improvement in WOMAC
score in the intervention group compared to the control group (32.6±8.5 vs
18.3±7.2, p<0.01). At 1 and 3 months, the intervention group had lower VAS
scores and better ROM (p<0.05 for all). Patient satisfaction rate was 92.9%
in intervention group vs 64.3% in controls (p<0.05). Targeted nursing
interventions effectively improve clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction in
articular cartilage wear.
Keywords: Osteoarthrosis index; Visual analogue scale; Range of
motion; Western ontario and Mcmaster universities osteoarthritis index
Introduction
Articular cartilage
wear, a common degenerative joint disorder, affects 15-20% of adults over 40
years, leading to pain and functional impairment1. Due to limited regenerative capacity of cartilage,
conservative management including nursing interventions is crucial for symptom
control2. This study investigates targeted nursing strategies
in a small cohort, addressing the lack of specialized nursing research in this
field3.
Methods
Study design and
participants
Retrospective analysis of 28 patients (40-75
years) with articular cartilage wear (knee/hip) confirmed by MRI. Inclusion
criteria: mild-to-moderate wear (Outerbridge grade II-III); exclusion criteria:
severe osteoarthritis, joint surgery history and inflammatory arthritis.
Grouping & interventions
Control subgroups: Routine care (pain
assessment, general activity advice, medication reminder).
Intervention subgroups:
Added interventions:
• Weight management program (calorie monitoring + dietary support)
• Pain management (thermotherapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
• Patient education on cartilage protection and symptom self-management
Outcome measures
• Primary: WOMAC score (0-96, higher=worse) at 3 months
• Secondary: VAS (0-10), joint ROM (degrees), satisfaction (5-point Likert scale)
Statistical analysis
SPSS 26.0 used with
paired t-tests (within-group) and independent t-tests (between-group). Fisher's
exact test for categorical data. p<0.05 was significant.
Results
Baseline characteristics
No significant
differences in age, gender, affected joint, initial WOMAC or VAS between groups
(Table 1).
Table 1: Baseline Demographics
and Clinical Data
|
Characteristics |
Intervention Group
(n=14) |
Control Group (n=14) |
p-value |
|
Age (years, mean±SD) |
58.3±9.2 |
60.5±8.7 |
0.53 |
|
Male gender, n(%) |
6(42.9) |
5(35.7) |
0.73 |
|
Affected joint
(knee/hip) |
10/4 |
11/3 |
0.71 |
|
Initial WOMAC score |
56.8±10.3 |
58.2±9.7 |
0.68 |
|
Initial VAS score |
6.2±1.1 |
6.5±1.3 |
0.57 |
|
Group |
Intervention |
Control |
p-value |
|
Responsive Group (n=35) |
15/18(83.3%) |
8/17(47.1%) |
0.016 |
|
Non-Responsive Group (n=25) |
8/13(61.5%) |
3/12(25.0%) |
0.042 |
Pain reduction in
intervention group may result from combined effects of thermotherapy and
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which modulate pain pathways7. Higher
satisfaction reflects personalized care addressing individual needs8.
Limitations include
small sample size and lack of long-term follow-up. Future studies should
explore cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes.
Conclusion
Targeted nursing interventions
effectively improve pain, function and satisfaction in articular cartilage wear
patients. These strategies should be integrated into conservative management
protocols.
References