Clinical efficacy of hyaluronic acid in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defect: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) alone or in combination with any bone substitute for the treatment of intrabony defects (IBDs). Six databases were searched up to April 2022 to find randomized clinical trials comparing the clinical effects of open flap debridement (OFD) + HA versus OFD alone (first group) or OFD + HA + bone substitutes versus OFD + bone substitutes (second group) in the treatment of IBDs with a follow-up of at least 3months. Random effects models of mean differences were used to determine the clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, probing depth (PD) reduction, and radiographic bone fill (RBF). Of the 276 studies identified, 6 were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 5 in the meta-analyses. The meta-analyses in the first group showed a statistically significant differences for CAL gain (mean difference [MD]:1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.65 - 1.35; n = 2) and PD reduction (MD: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.34 - 1.17; n = 2) favoring HA + OFD at 6months. However, in the second group, the meta-analyses did no show additional effect of HA in association with bone substitute was demonstrated for either CAL gain (MD: 0.57; 95%CI: - 0.30 - 1.43; n = 2) or PD reduction (MD: 1.05; 95%CI: - 0.38 - 2.47; n = 2) but did show significant differences for RBF (MD: 0.57; 95%CI: 0.15 - 0.99; n = 2) at 12months. Compared with OFD alone, local application of HA in the treatment of IBDs provided a significant CAL gain and PD reduction at 6months. However, its combination with bone substitutes showed no statistically significant differences at 12months. The use of OFD + HA improves the CAL and PD in the treatment of IBDs compared to OFD only after 6months of follow-up. These results are not maintained after 12months.