Infiltrations of steroids and hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis

Abstract

Intra-articular steroids (IA CS) are frequently used for the treatment of pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of both the knee and the hip, especially in the early stages, with a rapid onset of action providing short-term pain relief (1-6 weeks). IA CS do not clinically or significantly improve joint function of the knees or hips (stiffness, distance walked, or joint mobility) or quality of life. The efficacy of IA CS in hand OA is less evident. The risk of early adverse effects with the use of IA corticosteroids is very low. However, IA CS appear to have time- and dose-dependent side effects on articular cartilage. The infection rate after hip replacement does not increase with intra-articular injections, as long as there is enough time between the injection and the replacement (at least 3-6 months). In patients with knee OA, intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA HA) has been shown to be effective in controlling pain in the medium term (5-13 weeks) that can be maintained until the long term (26 weeks) with less obvious functional results. The efficacy of HA in pain control and functionality in patients with hip and hand OA is less evident. The side effects of HA are local, generally mild and transitory. It is not well established if they are more frequent with HA of high molecular weight, HA of avian origin or repeated injections. Image-guided injections, particularly with ultrasound, can improve the reliability of the CS or HA injection location, especially in the hip.