comparing Hyaluronic acid with corticosteroid injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee In Iran

Hyaluronic acid compared with corticosteroid injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized control trial

Article specifications

This randomized control trial was published in 2016 in springerplus journal (IF 2016: 0.98) by Iranian orthopedists. In this study the effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid was compared with intra-articular corticosteroid for knee osteoarthritis. 140 patients included men and women from 45 to 80 years who were suffering from knee OA for at least 3 months. Divided in 2 groups: 69 patients received corticosteroid and 71 patients received hyaluronic acid. 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. the follow-up visits were scheduled at 1, 2, and 3 months.

 

Results

Result of the study showed that the pain in both groups decrease in first month and increase in three month but was lower than before treatment and in hyaluronic acid in first month decrease more than corticosteroid but in third month there was no significant different in both groups. 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.