Poster 79: Clinical experience of hylan G-F 20 efficacy in patients with knee osteoarthritis from a large, orthopedic practice

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc) for knee pain in osteoarthritis (OA). Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected patient data. Setting: Large, knee-only, orthopedic clinical practice. Participants: Patients (N=1036; 1471 knees) who received hylan G-F 20 for osteoarthritic knee pain treatment from October 3, 1997 to April 30, 2002. Interventions: Intra-articular hylan G-F 20 (2mL; 3 weekly injections) using fluoroscopy for accurate needle placement. Main Outcome Measures: A physician visual analog scale (VAS; 100mm) was used to evaluate osteoarthritic knee pain at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 12, and 26. At weeks 4, 12, and 26, patients rated their pain and mobility on a 5-point scale (1=much worse, 5=much improved), and the amount of medication taken for osteoarthritic pain on a similar 5-point scale. Results: Approximately 72% of patients had radiologic OA grade IV. Physician VAS scores for pain associated with OA of the knee were significantly reduced with hylan G-F 20 at all timepoints compared with week 0 ( P<.0001). Mean VAS at week 0 was 77.5±13.8 compared with 23.4±23.7 at week 12 and 26.7±25.9 at week 26. Changes in VAS scores from week 0 indicated significant improvements in osteoarthritic knee pain at all timepoints ( P<.0001). At all timepoints subsequent to week 0, the majority of knees (62%–89%) had a positive response (≥20mm change in VAS from baseline). At weeks 4, 12, and 26, pain and mobility were improved or much improved in the majority of knees (60%–76%), and less or much less pain medication was taken for pain for the majority of knees (57%–68%) after hylan G-F 20 therapy. Conclusions: 3 intra-articular injections of hylan G-F 20 effectively relieved osteoarthritic knee pain and reduced pain medication needed for up to 6 months.