Viscosupplementation in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee: six month follow-up of a randomized, double-blind clinical trial
Campos, A.L.S., e Albuquerque, R.S.P., da Silva, E.B. et al.Knee
Purpose
To analyze the early outcomes of viscosupplementation in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.
Method
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 143 knees divided into three groups: Group 1 – intra-articular injection of triamcinolone; Group 2 – hylan GF20; and Group 3 – triamcinolone + hylan GF20. Outcomes were evaluated using Lysholm and KSS scores before treatment and after one, three and six months.
Results
Within-group comparisons revealed improvements in Lysholm scores in all groups in the one month evaluation relative to pre-treatment levels (p < 0.01). This improvement was maintained in the third month after treatment (p > 0.05). Scores at six months were significantly lower than those observed in the previous follow-up assessments (p < 0.05), but still higher than pre-treatment levels (p < 0.05). KSS scores also improved after one month relative to pre-treatment levels (p < 0.01). This improvement was still present at three and six months after treatment in the corticosteroid group (p > 0.05). Patients treated with hylan GF20 showed lower scores in the last evaluation relative to month one (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the treatment groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusions
Viscosupplementation increased functional scores in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee, especially within three months of injection. However, it was not superior to the use of triamcinolone.
Link to article