Abstract

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints that takes place when the cartilage or a low friction surface between joints breaks down which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) in comparison to corticosteroids (CS) for knee osteoarthritis.Methods140 patients with knee osteoarthritis, who were followed for 3 months, were randomized to receive intra-articular injection of either hyaluronic acid or corticosteroid. By receiving one injection of drug during the enrollment in the study, the patients were treated. With the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the visual analog pain scale, an independent, blinded evaluator assessed the patients three times.ResultsThe mean age of the patients in the corticosteroid group were 57 ± 1.9 years and in Hyaluronic acid group were 58.5 ± 8.3 years. WOMAC score represented that pain and stiffness did not improve in neither groups at any time points after intervention (P > 0.05). KOOS score suggested that symptoms improved after 3 months in both CS and HA groups. Besides, daily activity improved in both groups (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAs a conclusion, it is argued that the most important difference between the two intervention groups is the duration of effectiveness. HA is suggested to be superior in the duration of pain relief when compared to CS. We can propose that HA can be administered every 3 months intra-articular for knee joint OA. Therefore, when CS has to be injected every 2 months, it will be more convenient to use HA.

Highlights

  • Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints that takes place when the cartilage or a low friction surface between joints breaks down which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling

  • Pain at end of first month significantly decreased to 5.69 ± 2.33 (P < 0.001)

  • At the end of second month, pain increased to 5.90 ± 2.33 but it was significantly lower than pain before intervention (P < 0.001)

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Summary

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints that takes place when the cartilage or a low friction surface between joints breaks down which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) in comparison to corticosteroids (CS) for knee osteoarthritis. By using a variety of non-surgical treatments, such as oral analgesics, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, or any of several types of intra-articular injections, for most patients it might prolong time to undergo surgery. This would be true if there could be any disease- modifying medication. This is why hyaluronic acid (HA) and corticosteroids (CS) are of particular interest

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