title: Intra-articular injections of HYADD4-G in male professional soccer players with traumatic or degenerative knee chondropathy. A pilot, prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knee injuries are very common in some sports and particularly in soccer due to the highly repetitive loading of the mechanical stress involved in this practice. Knee-joint injuries account for 40% of all different kinds of lesions. Traumatic or degenerative patellofemoral or tibialfemoral chondropaties of knee cause disabling symptoms, joint pain and/or dysfunctions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of HYADD4-G, a hydrogel based on a hyaluronic acid derivative, in professional soccer players affected by traumatic or degenerative knee chondropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male professional soccer players participants in the Italian League 2014-2015, affected by traumatic or degenerative knee patellofemoral (N.=12) or tibiofemoral (N.=18) chondropathy assessed through MRI and/or arthroscopy of knee joints and the ICRS staging (International Cartilage Repair Society ≤3a), were enrolled in this pilot prospective study. Patients underwent 2 intra-articular (IA) injections of HYADD4-G (3 mL of 8 mg/mL) at one week interval. Patients were prospectively evaluated at baseline and then at 1, 3 and 6 months after the treatment by the Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Score (main outcome) and by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to evaluate pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant improvement in all clinical endpoints from pretreatment to different times of evaluation was found in all patients. ANOVA with repeated measure using the SPSS has showed significantly better results in term of KOOS and VAS scores at 1, 3 and 6 months compared to the pre-injection value (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IA HYADD4-G is highly effective to improve resting and walking pain in professional male soccer players with traumatic or degenerative knee chondropathy.
authors.affiliation: L.A.M.I.CA. (Libera Associazione Medici Italiani del Calcio), Formia, Latina, Italy - p.tamburrino@lamica.it.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tamburrino
authors.affiliation: L.A.M.I.CA. (Libera Associazione Medici Italiani del Calcio), Formia, Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castellacci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007558:Italy; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid