| Autor: |
Migliorini F; Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Academic Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), 39100 Bolzano, Italy.; Department of Life Sciences, Health, and Health Professions, Link Campus University, 00165 Rome, Italy., Maffulli N; Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, University La Sapienza, 00185 Roma, Italy.; School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine, Keele University, Stoke on Trent ST4 7QB, UK.; Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End Hospital, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4DG, UK., Schäfer L; Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Academic Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), 39100 Bolzano, Italy., Kubach J; Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 90455 Erlangen, Germany., Betsch M; Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 90455 Erlangen, Germany., Pasurka M; Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopaedics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 90455 Erlangen, Germany. |
| Abstrakt: |
The present meta-analysis investigated the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections for knee osteoarthritis. The outcomes of interest were the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario McMaster Osteo-Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. This study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement. All the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of intra-articular HA injections versus placebo injections for knee osteoarthritis were accessed in September 2024. Data from 3851 patients were collected. In total, 64% (2467 of 3851 patients) were women, and the mean age of the patients was 63.5 ± 4.9 years. At baseline, good comparability was found for the mean age, BMI, percentage of women, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Studies which reported data from two to four weeks of follow-up evidenced a lower value of the subscales pain ( p < 0.0001) and stiffness ( p = 0.01) of the WOMAC score. No difference was observed in VAS at rest ( p = 0.4), VAS at exercise ( p = 0.1), and subscale function ( p = 0.4) of the WOMAC score. Studies which reported data from five to eight weeks of follow-up evidenced lower VAS at rest in favour of the HA group ( p = 0.01). No difference in the other PROMs of interest was observed: VAS at exercise ( p = 0.1), and the subscales pain ( p = 0.3), function ( p = 0.4), and stiffness ( p = 0.4) of the WOMAC score. The current level I of evidence suggests that intra-articular HA injections in the knee might reduce pain in the short term. |
