comparing hyaluronic acid to triamcinolone hexacetonide in inflammatory knee osteoarthritis

Intra-articular hyaluronic acid compared to intra-articular triamcinolone hexacetonide in inflammatory knee osteoarthritis. A randomized double-blind comparative clinical study

Article specifications

This clinical study was published in 1995 in journal of Osteoarthritis and cartilage (IF 2014: 4.165) by British orthopedics. The aim of this study was to determine the comparative efficacy and safety of intra-articular (IA) triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH) and IA hyaluronic acid (HA) in inflammatory knee osteoarthritis. 63 patients (24 male, 39 female, mean age 70.5 years) with bilateral symptomatic knee osteoarthritis were given five HA injections at weekly intervals; or 20 mg TH followed by four placebo (saline) injections. Patients were examined weekly during the treatment period and then at monthly intervals for a further 6 months. Assessment included recording of: visual analog scores (VAS) for pain; duration of stiffness; range of movement; joint effusion; local heat; synovial thickening; joint-line and periarticular tenderness.

 

Results

The similarity of efficacy of HA and TH is encouraging since HA is, as far as is known, not subject to any of the theoretical risks that are associated with Intra articular steroids. Furthermore, the observation that HA may have a longer duration of action is important and may be an important addition to the therapeutic armamentarium to osteoarthritis. The results of the study showed that the hyaluronic acid group experienced less pain during the 6-month follow-up period and it is a safe and it has long duration of action.