Effect of intra-articular injection of hyaluronan on proprioception of the knee joint in gerontal patients with osteoarthritis / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the short-term effects of intra-articular injection of hyaluronan on proprioception of the knee in gerontal patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods The 53 gerontal patients were included in this study. The study included treatment group (n=35) and the placebo group (n=18). Hyaluronan was intra-articularly injected into both knees of the subjects in treatment group, whereas physiological saline was intra-articularly injected in the placebo group. Proprioception test was performed, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities(WOMAC) scales were used to evaluate pain and physical function. Results Statistical analysis was performed on 100 knees of 50 patients who completed the trial. Compared with the placebo group,the average absolute angular error (AAAE) value in the treatment group was detected to be statistically lower one week after the 4th injection (1.8±0.9 vs.2.9±1.1,t=2.42,P=0.02),and WOMAC was lower in the treatment group after one week (8.7±3.1 vs.11.5±4.0, t=0.73,P＜0.05). Conclusions Intra-articular injection of hyaluronan in gerontal patients with knee OA leads to a short-term increase in proprioception, and significant improvement in the functional conditions of patients.