Intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injections after arthroscopic debridement forosteoarthritis of the knee: a prospective, randomized, controlled study
Abstract
Methods: Sixty-seven patients (21 men, 46 women; mean age 56 years; range 40 to 65 years) who underwent standard arthroscopic debridement for primary knee osteoarthritis of Kellgren Lawrence grade II-III were randomly assigned to HA injections (n=33) or to only follow-up as controls (n=34). Intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injections (Orthovisc) were started three weeks after arthroscopic debridement, totaling three injections interspersed with a week. The two groups were evaluated with the pain and physical function subscales of the WOMAC osteoarthritis index before and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks of arthroscopic debridement.
Results: Improvement in pain scores at 6 weeks did not differ between the two groups (HA 21%, control 16%; p=0.478), whereas improvement in function scores was significantly higher in the HA group (23% vs 9.2%; p=0.018). The rates of improvement in pain and function scores increased in subsequent evaluations, but these did not differ significantly between the two groups. The percentages of patients who exhibited at least 30% and 40% improvement from baseline function scores were significantly greater in the HA group only at six weeks (p=0.025 and p=0.038, respectively).
Conclusion: Intra-articular HA injections after arthroscopic debridement provide additional short-term benefits, but this combination therapy should be justified by further controlled studies with longer follow-up and larger patient groups.
Keywords
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Nurettin Heybeli
This is me
Mahmut Doral
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Özgür Atay
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Gürsel Leblebicioğlu
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Akın Üzümcügil
This is me
Publication Date
December 18, 2008
Submission Date
May 10, 2014
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2008 Volume: 42 Number: 4