Faculty

Frank Caruso, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, NC

Nathan Wei, MD
Clinical Director
Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center
Frederick, MD

Mike Rudzinski, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Buffalo, NY

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Agenda

“A Closer Look At The Role Of Intraarticular Injections”
Frank Caruso, PA-C

“What The Literature Reveals About Viscosupplementation”
Nathan Wei, MD

“Mastering The Technique Of Intraarticular Injections”
Mike Rudzinski, PA-C

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Target Audience

This activity is geared toward rheumatologists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who treat patients with osteoarthritis knee pain.

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Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• discuss the role of intraarticular injections within the armamentarium of treatment options for osteoarthritis knee pain
• describe therapeutic indications and contraindications for intraarticular injections in this patient population
• compare and contrast the mechanisms and dosing regimens of available viscosupplement agents including sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronan and hylan G-F 20
• demonstrate knowledge of recent studies on the use of viscosupplementation in managing osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain
• discuss the efficacy and safety of viscosupplement agents for OA knee pain
• review findings from studies that have compared corticosteroid injections with viscosupplementation in the management of osteoarthritis knee pain
• describe positioning of the patient and anatomical landmarks for intraarticular injections in the knee
• discuss sterile preparation as well as proper needle position, insertion, angle and depth
• review keys to ensuring patient adherence to post-injection instructions

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Accreditation

MD/DO: This activity is sponsored by the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education (NACCME). NACCME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. NACCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1.5 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This activity has been planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Essential Areas and Policies.

Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants accepts AMA Category 1.5 credit for the PRA from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Nurses: ANCC: NACCME is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the PA State Nurses Association for 1.5 contact hours. Provider #: 110-3-E-06. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 13255 for 1.5 contact hours.

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Faculty disclosures

All faculty participating in continuing education programs sponsored by NACCME are expected to disclose to the meeting audience any real or apparent conflicts of interest related to the content of their presentation. It is not assumed that these financial interests or affiliations will have an adverse impact on faculty presentations. Full faculty disclosure will be made at the beginning of the activity.

Mr. Caruso has disclosed that he has no significant financial relationship with any organization that could be perceived as a real or apparent conflict of interest in the context of the subject of this presentation.

Mr. Rudzinski has disclosed that he is a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for Wyeth, Genzyme, Pfizer and Sanofi-Aventis.

Mr. Wei has disclosed that he has received grant/research support from Sanofi-Aventis and Genzyme.

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Commercial Supporter

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Genzyme.

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Sponsor

The activity is sponsored by the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education (NACCME).

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