title: Efficacy and Safety of a Biweekly Viscosupplementation Regimen for Knee Osteoarthritis.
abstract: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the Western world, causing disabling symptoms in 10% of people older than 55 years. Hyaluronic acid injections can reduce osteoarthritic pain but require three to five doses administered weekly. This preliminary study aims to assess the efficacy of a more flexible viscosupplementation regimen. Patients were given three sodium hyaluronate isotonic solution injections (Ostenil; TRB Chemedica SA, Vouvry, Switzerland), biweekly. They were then asked to record their pain before and after administration of the injections, on a visual analog score. A total of 91 knees were injected. Analysis of the data showed that the viscosupplementation injections significantly reduced the baseline pain within the first 24 to 48 hours post first injection (before injection, 68.8mm; 2 days postinjection, 48.9 mm; p < 0.001); these effects were maintained up to 6 months. No adverse effects were reported. The proposed regimen appears safe and efficient in reducing osteoarthritic pain of the knee joint. A randomized controlled study is needed to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: Academic Surgical Unit, St. James University Hospital, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yiasemidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Whiston Hospital, Prescot, Merseyside, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Usama
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Munir
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department, Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glassman
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Whiston Hospital, Prescot, Merseyside, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teanby
mesh_terms: D018771:Arthralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D055675:Viscosupplements; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid