Functional outcome in knee osteoarthritis after treatment with hylan G-F 20: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess functional change in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) after treatment with intra-articular hyaluronic acid (Hylan G-F 20; Synvisc).

DESIGN

Prospective case series with 6-month follow-up.

SETTING

Outpatient community orthopedic practice.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-four consecutive patients referred to private orthopedic group with symptoms and radiographic evidence of unilateral or bilateral knee OA who had either failed or could not tolerate the side effects of conservative treatment. Sixty-one patients completed the study. Nineteen patients were lost to follow-up. Four patients withdrew from study due to subsequent knee arthroplasty.

INTERVENTION

Three weekly injections of Hylan G-F 20 into one or both (if bilaterally symptomatic) knees (110 knees total).

OUTCOME MEASURE

SF-36 Health Survey was completed before treatment and 6 months after treatment.

RESULTS

Statistically significant improvement (p < .001) in Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, Social Functioning, and Role-Emotional categories on 6-month follow-up survey. Age and percent above ideal body weight were not significant predictors of functional change.

CONCLUSION

Efficacy of intra-articular injection of Hylan G-F 20 for knee OA 6 months after injection is demonstrated in several categories of the SF-36, indicating a measurable improvement in overall functioning in these patients.