Osteoarthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoarthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication. | ||||||||
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Efficacy and safety of hyaluronan treatment in combination therapy with home exercise for knee osteoarthritis pain.Stitik TP, Blacksin MF, Stiskal DM, Kim JH, Foye PM, Schoenherr L, Choi ES, Chen B, Saunders HJ, Nadler SF Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. stitikto@umdnj.edu OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate combined with a home exercise program (HEP) in the management of pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. DESIGN: Single-blinded, parallel-design, 1-year clinical study with sequential enrollment. SETTING: University-based outpatient physiatric practice. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients (18 men, 42 women; age, > or =50 y) with moderate-to-severe pain associated with OA of the knee. INTERVENTIONS: (1) Five weekly intra-articular hyaluronate injections (5-HYL); (2) 3 weekly intra-articular hyaluronate injections (3-HYL); or (3) a combination of an HEP with 3 weekly intra-articular hyaluronate injections (3-HYL+HEP). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was a 100-mm visual analog scale for pain after a 50-foot walk (15.24 m). Secondary measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index subscales. RESULTS: The 3-HYL+HEP group had significantly faster onset of pain relief compared with the 3-HYL (P<.01) and 5-HYL groups (P=.01). All groups showed a mean symptomatic improvement from baseline (reduction in baseline pain at 3 mo was 59%, 49%, and 48% for the 3-HYL+HEP, 3-HYL, and 5-HYL groups, respectively) that was clinically and statistically significant. There were no between-group differences in the incidence or nature of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of hyaluronate injections with HEP should be considered for management of moderate-to-severe pain in patients with knee OA. Published 2 February 2007 in Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 88(2): 135-41.
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