BACKGROUND

Treatments for osteoarthritis, including steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are not very satisfactory. Therefore, we decided to compare the therapeutic results of intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid and methylprednisolone.

METHODS

In this single-blind clinical trial, 132 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were randomly assigned to two treatment groups; hyaluronic acid and methylprednisolone. Treatment results were measured based on the standard McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire.

RESULTS

Although the desired level of satisfaction was higher in the short-term in the methylprednisolone group and in the long-term in the hyaluronic acid group, however, these differences were not significant.

CONCLUSION

The recovery of patients is better with methylprednisolone injection in the short term and hyaluronic acid in the long term. However, since methylprednisolone has complications, it is recommended to consider hyaluronic acid as a suitable drug in the treatment process.