
Osteoarthritis
Hyaluronic acid versus corticosteroid in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
Six ACE Reports were identified from the OrthoEvidence database which compared intra-articular injection(s) of hyaluronic acid to corticosteroid in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. All of the included studies were randomized controlled trials which reported pain and/or functional outcomes within 6 months of intervention. Pooled analysis of pain on a visual analog scale indicated that pain relief was significantly better with hyaluronic acid injections at both 3 and 6 months follow-up; however, this finding was strongly influenced by two studies of lower methodological quality. No significant differences between hyaluronic acid and corticosteroid injections were observed in any functional outcome measurement. Due to incomplete or lack of reporting adverse events, an assessment of safety could not be performed along with this review. Furthermore, these findings only examine short-term differences in the efficacy of these two injection therapies and the effects of each over a longer time period still need to be determined.
Unlock the full article
Get unlimited access to OrthoEvidence with a free trial
Start TrialCritical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics
Or continue reading this full article
Register Now

Subscribe to "The Pulse"
Evidence-Based Orthopaedics direct to your inbox.