ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To retrospectively analyze the long-term efficacy of intra-articular injection with sodium hyaluronate for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2006 to August 2007,120 patients (181 knees) with knee osteoarthritis, (mild 61 knees, moderate 72 knees, severe 48 knees), were treated by intra-articular injection with sodium hyaluronate, 2 ml every week for 5 weeks. The clinical effects were analyzed according to VAS, JOA scoring before treatment, at the 1 month, 1, 2 years after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) VAS scores were respectively (7.26 +/- 1.83), (1.85 +/- 1.21), (2.54 +/- 1.40), (3.07 +/- 1.51) scores before treatment, at the 1 month, 1 and 2 years after treatment. There was significant difference between every post-treatment and pre-treatment. (2) JOA scoring of knee function was respectively (18.7 +/- 6.6), (84.3 +/- 15.5), (75.4 +/- 22.4), (64.8 +/- 25.6) scores before treatment, at the 1 month, 1 and 2 years after treatment. There was significant difference between every post-treatment and pre-treatment. (3) Assessment of long-term efficacy among 181 knees who were followed up 1 year, 70 cases got excellent results, 54 good, 34 fair and 23 poor. Those who were followed up 2 years,40 cases got excellent results, 54 good, 53 fair and 34 poor. Knee function became poor along with time-lapse. The efficiency was respectively 86.89% (53/61), 79.17% (57/72), 54.17% (26/48) in mild knees, moderate knees, severe knees at the 2 years after treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The long-term efficacy of intra-articular injection with sodium hyaluronate is satisfactory in treating knee osteoarthritis. The efficacy is better for mild and moderate osteoarthritis than for the severe osteoarthritis. The short-term efficacy is acceptable and the long-term one is worse for the severe knees.</p>