Comparison of two hyaluronan drugs in patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study with long term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the long-term effects of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) applications in severe (Kellgren Lawrence stage III) osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.


METHODS
In a prospective clinical trial 184 knees (92 patients) with radiographic Kellgren Lawrence stage III OA were randomized to receive either 3 intra-articular high molecular weight HA (Hylan G-F 20) injections or 3 low molecular weight HA (Orthovisc) injections at one-week intervals. Patients were evaluated by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score and were followed-up for 12 months.


RESULTS
The total HSS score in high molecular weight HA patients improved from 71.8+/-11.6 to 86.7+/-11.6 and in low molecular weight HA patients from 66.7+/-11.0 to 86.6+/-9.1 at the end of the trial (p < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups and both had improved in all parameters at the latest follow-up (p = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
Three intra-articular injections at intervals of 1 week of both HA preparations resulted in a pronounced reduction in pain and improved function as measured by the HSS score during a period of 52 weeks, without complications.
Karatosun
V
V
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Balcova, Izmir, Turkey. vasfi.karatosun@deu.edu.tr
Unver
B
B
Gocen
Z
Z
Sen
A
A
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C477349:orthovisc; C049816:hylan; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid