Riassunto dello studio

Three-hundred and thirteen patients with symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (OA) were randomized into receiving intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (hylan G-F 20) or corticosteroid (methylprednisolone acetate [MPA]). The primary outcome of interest included pain measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale. Secondary outcomes included the clinical observer global assessment (COGA), the patient global assessment (PGA), total WOMAC score, WOMAC A1 (pain while walking on a flat surface within 48 hours) score, the WOMAC stiffness subscale, and the WOMAC physical function subscale. All primary and secondary outcomes were measured at follow-up periods of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 26 weeks; data was missing or not reported for several follow-up periods. Study results demonstrated that all primary and secondary outcomes significantly improved from baseline to week 26 for both treatment arms. COGA and PGA scores significantly improved using Hylan G-F 20 treatment in the Kellgren-Lawrence grade (KLG) 3 sub-group specifically. Therefore, hyaluronic acid (Hylan G-F 20) demonstrated significant benefits for improving overall health status of in patients with more severe OA.