title: Intra-articular hyaluronate, tenoxicam and vitamin E in a rat model of osteoarthritis: evaluation and comparison of chondroprotective efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate and compare the chondroprotective efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid, tenoxicam and vitamin E in osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An osteoarthritis model was created by anterior cruciate ligament transection and medial menisectomy in knees of 28 rats. The rats were randomized into four groups; first group served as a control group and received intra-articular injections of saline solution, intra-articular HA, intra-articular tenoxicam and intra-articular Vit E were applied to the treatment groups. First intra-articular injections were applied at second week postoperatively and repeated once a week for 5 weeks. At 8th week after the operation groups were compared based on the histologic scores of cartilage degeneration by Mankin Histological Grading Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total cartilage degeneration score was significantly increased in the control group (P=0.004). Total Mankin scores of HA, tenoxicam and Vit E groups were significantly lower than the control group (P=0.004, P=0.016, P=0.012 respectively). There was no statistically siginificant difference between the treatment groups in terms of total Mankin scores (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-articular application of HA, tenoxicam and Vit E are chondroprotective in early osteoarthritis model in rats. Chondroprotective activity of tenoxicam and Vit E are comparable with the beneficial effects of HA on articular cartilage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Feyza Unlu
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Bezmialem University Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokcer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Othopedics and Traumatology, Medeniyet University Goztepe Education and Research Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Türkmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Othopedics and Traumatology, Medeniyet University Goztepe Education and Research Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medeniyet University Goztepe Education and Research Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.affiliation: Department of Othopedics and Traumatology, Medeniyet University Goztepe Education and Research Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Korhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Othopedics and Traumatology, Medeniyet University Goztepe Education and Research Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turkmensoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Anadolu Saglik Merkezi İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saime
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aktas
keywords: Hyaluronic acid; chondroprotective activity; osteoarthritis; tenoxicam; vitamin E