THE ESSENTIAL
- Osteoarthritis of the knee affects 30% of people aged 65 to 75.
- No treatment can cure knee osteoarthritis.
Viscosupplementation is a technique that consists of injecting hyaluronic acid into the joints affected by osteoarthritis in order to improve their mobility and relieve pain. In a recent study published in the British Medical Journalan international group of researchers assessed the effectiveness and safety of this method in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
21.163 participants
To carry out their work, the scientists analyzed data from 169 trials involving 21,163 people with knee OA. Some participants benefited from viscosupplementation, others received a placebo treatment or had no treatment. “The primary endpoint was pain intensity. Secondary outcomes were function and serious adverse events,” the authors said.
A slight reduction in pain
According to the results, viscosupplementation was linked to a slight reduction in pain intensity compared to placebo. These hyaluronic acid injections were also associated with a higher risk of serious adverse effects than placebo. Scientists felt that widespread use of viscosupplementation to treat knee osteoarthritis was not warranted.
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