Nonsurgical treatments for knee art...

Nonsurgical treatments for knee arthritis include several shadows of intra-articular injections. Although studies of corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections have had mixed eventuates a number have demonstrated a certain efficacy for these injections in relieving pain and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis. Comparison studies have been limited because of small populations and potential bias from the funding source. Leopold and associates course of lifeed a prospective, blinded, randomized research to compare the efficacy of intra-articular injections of betamethasone sodium phosphate-betamethasone acetate and hyaluronic acid in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The authors enlisted 100 patients with radiologic confirmation of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who had not received an intra-articular injection in the past three month To qualify for the close attention the patients had to have no clear evidence of chondrocalcinosis or ligament insufficiency, and no history of inflammatory arthritis, crystalline arthropathy, or neuropathic arthropathy. Participants were randomized to receive the same course of three weekly injections of hyaluronic acid or a single 2-mL injection of the corticosteroid solution with an anesthetic. Patients receiving the corticosteroid preparation could desire a second injection during the close attention period, if needed.

Although pain and function improved in the two treatment groups, no significant differences were noted between the pair groups at three or six month Rates of withdrawal from the trial and adverse tenors from the injection were similar in one as well as the other groups.

The authors determine that intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids provide similar pure improvement of function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee Because hyaluronic acid is more expensive and requires three separate injections, the authors note that it probably is not an appropriate first-line treatment for patients with symptoms of knee osteoarthritis who are considering intra-articular injections.

Leopold S et al. Corticosteroid compared with hyaluronic acid injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee A prospective, randomized trial. J Bone Joint Surg July 2003;85-A:1197-203.

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