[Reduction of arthrosis associated knee pain through a single intra-articular injection of synthetic hyaluronic acid].

AIM: Conventional hyaluronic acids need three to five injections for therapeutic success, whereas Durolane), a synthetic hyaluronic acid, needs only a single injection. Clinical outcome using Durolane should be compared with the results of studies using hyaluronic acids or glucocorticoids.

METHOD: Fifty patients with primary gonarthrosis stages I-III (Kellgren Score) were investigated for knee function, pain intensity, and quality of life. The knee and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), visual analogue scale (VAS), and European quality of live score (EQ-5D), as well as motion of the knee were measured. Patients were investigated before, and 2, and 24 weeks after injection.

RESULTS: Two weeks after injection, the subjective function of knee and quality of life had increased significantly. In the following 22 weeks, all parameters increased significantly (quality of life and activity +19%; range of motion active 109 vs. 115 degrees ; pain, 55 vs. 41 mm (VAS); all p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: We conclude that a single injection of Durolane can reduce arthrosis associated knee pain sufficiently. Our data are comparable with those published in clinical studies using other hyaluronic acids. The effects of Durolane are delayed but more sustained compared than those found for glucocorticoids. Because of the single injection, we see an advantage in using Durolane compared to other conventional hyaluronic acids and glucocorticoids.