The safety and efficacy of intraarticular hyaluronan with/without corticosteroid in knee osteoarthritis: 1-year, single-blind, randomized study

47 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to one of two injection therapy groups; one group received two courses of three weekly sodium hyaluronate injections, with the addition of a corticosteroid injection at the beginning of each course, while the second group was treated with the two course of sodium hyaluronate injections alone. Patients were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and a 100mm visual analog scale for pain at 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, and 12 months, as well as on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 12 months. Results demonstrated significant pain reduction within the HA+CS group at 1 month, and within the HA alone group at 2 months. Trends in pain changes from 2 to 12 months appeared similar between groups. No significant differences in MRI findings were observed between groups.