INTRA-ARTICULAR HYALOYRONIC-ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE.

Abstract

The efficacy and safety of hyaloyronic-acid in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were investigated, in the present study.

A total of 125 patients were included in the study during the last five years (1996–2001). Treatment was one weekly, intraarticular administration of 20-mg/2ml hyalouronic acid for 5 consecutive weeks.

All the patients were clinically assessed before each injection and every three months after the end of the therapy. X-ray examinations were performed 6 months and one year after the end of therapy. All 125 patients complete the study.

Spontaneous pain decreased during the treatment course and continued to decrease-up to the end of the study in patients with 1st and 2nd stage osteoarthritis of the knee. In these patients observed a substantial improvement of morning stiffness and supra-patellar circumference. In all patients there weren’t any x-ray improvement at the end of the therapy. The pain and joint stiffness were reapproranced in all patients after a mean time of five months after the end of the therapy. We didn’t observed any local or systemic adverse during the therapy. The results of this study demonstrate that intraarticular administration of hyalouronic-acid is safe and effective and confirms that the product is a valid alternative in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.