Prospective randomized clinical trial: single and weekly viscosupplementation.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two different dosages of an intermediate molecular weight sodium hyaluronate (HA) (Osteonil(®)-TRB Pharma) assessing whether a single 6 ml application of this HA has the same effectiveness as the classical three-weekly 2 ml dose.


METHODS
108 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized into two groups of 54 patients each. The groups were designated "single" (S) and "weekly" (W). Patients in group S underwent a viscosupplementation procedure by application of only 6 ml of sodium hyaluronate and 1 ml triamcinolone hexacetonide. Patients in group W underwent the procedure of viscosupplementation through three applications with 2 ml sodium hyaluronate with a week interval between them, and the first application was also performed with the infiltration of 1 ml (20 mg) of Triamcinolone Hexacetonide. Both groups were assessed before, at one month and three months after application, by responding to the WOMAC, Lequesne, IKDC and VAS questionnaires.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference between the single application of 6 ml of sodium hyaluronate and classic application with three weekly injections. However, only the classical regime showed statistically significant improvement in baseline pain (WOMAC pain and VAS).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that both application schemes improve application function, but the three-weekly regimen of 2 ml was more effective in reducing pain. Level of Evidence I, Prospective Randomized, Clinical Trial.
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Alejandro Agustin Carri
AA
Zóboli
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Márcia Uchôa
MU
de Rezende
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Gustavo Constantino
GC
de Campos
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Thiago
T
Pasqualin
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Renato
R
Frucchi
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Olavo Pires
OP
de Camargo
Hyaluronic acid/administration and dosage; Hyaluronic acid/therapeutic use; Knee; Osteoarthritis