A Comparison of Hyaluronic Acid and Betamethasone in The Treatment of Osteoarthritis of The Thumb: A Randomized, Evaluator-Masked, Single-Centre Study

Comparison of Hyaluronic Acid and Betamethasone in Osteoarthritis of Thumb

Article specifications

This randomized, evaluator-masked, single-centre study was published in 2009 in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage journal (IF 2009:4.165) by American orthopedics. The purpose of the study was comparing the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided local injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) (Suplasyn® 500-1000 kDa) and betamethasone in the management of patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb. Patients of both sexes, aged > 40 years, diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the thumb (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II and III) according to the ACR criteria were included in the study. Patients were randomized (1:1) to ultrasound-guided local treatment with HA or betamethasone. A total of three local injections of active medication were scheduled at 7-day intervals. Paracetamol, 2 g/day, was allowed as rescue medication. Assessments performed at baseline and at 7, 14, 30, 90 and 180 days included pain evaluation with a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS), Dreiser’s functional index (score 0-30), and global evaluation of efficacy by the investigator and the patient.

 

Results

Ultrasound-guided local injections of HA and betamethasone were both effective and well tolerated for the management of patients with osteoarthritis of the thumb, although HA seemed to provide better functional benefits than betamethasone.