HYLAN G-F 20 VERSUS TRIAMCINOLONE IN THE TREATMENT OF PRIMARY SHOULDER OSTEOARTHRITIS. RANDOMIZED TRIAL.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of using an intra-articular injection of hylan G-F 20 (HA group) on primary shoulder osteoarthritis compared with an intra-articular triamcinolone injection (T group).

Materials and Methods: The patients were randomized into 2 groups: in the HA group a single dose of intra-articular hylan G-F 20 was administered and in the T control group a dose of triamcinolone 20 mg was administered. The participants were evaluated at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure. The patients were evaluated for pain, range of motion, Constant score, modified UCLA score, and SPADI.

Results: Seventy patients met the inclusion criteria and were randomized to the HA (38) and T (32) groups. Improvements in range of motion were significant (p > 0.05). We observed decreases in the general visual analog scale (VAS) for pain in both groups, especially in the cases of mild and moderate arthritis that received hyaluronic acid (mean values from 8.1 initially to 4.9 after 6 months) (p = 0).

Conclusions: Both injections led to a decrease in pain and an increase in patient satisfaction. The results tend to be better and longer lasting in patients receiving hyaluronic acid. Level of evidence II b; Cohort study.