Effectiveness of intra-articular hyaluronic acid versus corticosteroids in knee osteoarthritis: a comparative study

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the largest cause of disability worldwide and the most common cause of knee discomfort. OA is a chronic, progressive joint disease marked by articular cartilage deterioration and secondary hyperosteogeny. OA affects 35 percent of those over the age of 65 and produces considerable pain in the knee joint. The patient with OA not only suffers from chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced movement, physical and/or mental co-morbidity, but also has a direct impact on their quality of life.Methods: 72 patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of unilateral knee joint (pain >3 months) were included in the present study. They were randomly divided into two groups; group A (n=36) included patients who were given intra-articular injection hyaluronic acid and group B (n=36) included those who were given intra-articular corticosteroid injection. All the data was compared both within the group as well as with one another at different follow up time.Results: There was no significant difference in the basic demographic distribution in both groups. Female sex predilection was seen in the present study. In patients receiving hyaluronic acid (HA), mean baseline visual analog scale (VAS) score was noted to be 7.45±1.4. Then at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months follow up the mean VAS score was 3.4±1.3, 2.78±1.1, 3.71±1.4 and 3.90±1.2; p<0.05).Conclusions: Steroids provide an acute symptomatic relief but their benefits are short lasting. On the other hand, HA provides long lasting therapeutic pain relief