RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The Purpose was to evaulate the efficacy of sodium hyaluronate (HA) according to the degree of osteoarthritis, body mass index and tibiofemoral alignment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 53 of 73 patients who had osteoarthritis of the knee were underwent intraarticular injection weekly for 5 weeks with hyaluronic acid (HA, hyruan(R), MW:1MDa) and 20 of 73 patients with placebo (normal saline). The patients were followed for 27 weeks. Results were evaluated with visual analogue scale for pain, Lequesne algofunctional index for functional severity and Tegner activity score for activity. The degree of severity of osteoarthrtis of knee was stratified by Kellgren classification. RESULTS: In the group treated with HA, the patients classified as Kellgren classification II and III showed much better improvement in efficacy for pain, function and activity compared with group IV. In the femorotibial alignment, neutral and valgus alignment group showed better results than varus group. There is no statistical significance in the knee pain and function between normal and overweight group. Best symptomatic improvement according to the subjective symptom revealed at 3 week in 25 patients (47.2%). Placebo treated patients had slight pain and improved functional perfomance but less effect in compared with HA treated patients. CONCLUSION: Intraarticular administration of HA relieve the symptom of osteoarthritis and improve the function of knee joint. Especially, the patients classified with Kellgren classification II, III and valgus, neutral tibiofemoral alignmen groups showed much better improvement than grade IV and varus group.