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Unloader Knee Brace in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

By July 23, 2021 No Comments
The IPS OAide 3000™ Single Hinge Unloading Knee Brace

The prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing, and it will continue to do so as the baby boomer generation ages. Typically, total knee replacement surgery (TKA) is the course of treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis, but this is beginning to change. Even before a pandemic swept the globe, many were already looking for non-surgical alternatives to knee replacement surgery due to high-costs, potential risks, and long waiting surgery lists. COVID-19 exacerbated these already existing issues- upwards of one million TKA surgeries were cancelled in 2020, while millions of Americans avoided hospitals and surgery centers, (more on that here.)

One of the non-surgical alternatives that has come to the forefront is the use of unloader braces. Knee osteoarthritis is associated with misalignment of the knee, and these braces have the potential to correct this misalignment and delay the need for knee replacement surgery. Unloader knee braces are designed to transfer or “unload” pressure and stress from the affected side of the joint to the healthier side of the joint. They can provide your patients with stability, support, and relief from the pain caused by knee osteoarthritis. Using an unloader brace can also support patients in their daily activities by improving mobility.

There are several existing studies that endorse the use of unloader knee braces. They are generally considered a cost-effective treatment that offers pain relief without side effects. This study from PubMed provides a synopsis of the evidence documented in scientific literature concerning the efficacy of off-loader knee braces for improving symptomatology associated with knee OA. The study concluded:

“Given the encouraging evidence that off-loader braces are effective in mediating pain relief in conjunction with knee OA and malalignment, bracing should be fully used before joint realignment or replacement surgery is considered. With the number of patients with varus deformities and knee pain predicted to increase as the population ages, a reduction of patient morbidity for this widespread chronic condition in combination with this treatment modality could have a positive impact on health care costs and the economic productivity and quality of life of the affected individuals.”

This is where the IPS designed OAIDE 3000™ Single Hinge Unloading Knee Brace comes in. Integrative Practice Solutions has developed an advanced Osteoarthritis unloading knee support device with years of extensive testing and proven results. The IPS OAide 3000™ Single Hinge Unloading Knee Brace is a one size fits most product that is PDAC approved to be billed as HCPCS code L1843 Knee Orthosis (see PDAC approval letter here). Reimbursements can be very valuable for this code and profit margins quite robust. You may view a sampling of EOB’s here.

Before & After OAide 3000™ Bracing

The IPS OAide 3000™ Single Hinge Unloading Knee Brace has been shown to increase joint space: reducing pressure on the cartilage of the knee and knee capsule. This unloading effect allows the viscosupplement of choice to bond with the body’s existing synovial fluid with greater ease, resulting in both faster and longer lasting positive patient outcomes. The IPS OAide 3000™ Single Hinge Unloading Knee Brace was specifically designed for the care of patients suffering from Osteoarthritis.

For more information, visit our website https://integrative-practice-solutions-llc.myshopify.com/ or call us at (855) 854-6332.

Sources

·      Unloader braces for medial compartment knee osteoarthritis: implications on mediating progression
·      An Update on Unloading Knee Braces in the Treatment of Unicompartmental Knee Osteoarthritis from the Last 10 Years: A Literature Review
·      Unloader Knee Brace for Osteoarthritis

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