Efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid in patients with osteoarthritis of the ankle: a prospective study

Evidence-based radiology (part 2): Is there sufficient research to support the use of therapeutic injections into the peripheral joints?

INTRODUCTION

This review article addresses the best evidence currently available for the effectiveness of injection therapy for musculoskeletal conditions involving the peripheral joints. The research is presented by anatomical region and areas of controversy and the need for additional research are identified.

DISCUSSION

Randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses and systematic reviews are lacking that address the effectiveness of therapeutic injections to the sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, ankle and foot joints. No research studies of any kind have been reported for therapeutic injections of the sternoclavicular joint. With the exception of the knee, possibly the hip and patients with inflammatory arthropathies, research does not unequivocally support the use of therapeutic joint injections for most of the peripheral joints, including the shoulder. Additionally, controversy exists in some areas as to whether or not corticosteroids provide better outcomes compared to local anesthetic injections alone.

CONCLUSION

When viscosupplementation injections are compared to corticosteroids in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, the evidence supports the use of viscosupplementation for more prolonged improvement in outcomes, with corticosteroids being good for short-term relief.

Efficacy of customised foot orthoses in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy: study protocol for a randomised trial

Background

Achilles tendinopathy is a common condition that can cause marked pain and disability. Numerous non-surgical treatments have been proposed for the treatment of this condition, but many of these treatments have a poor or non-existent evidence base. The exception to this is eccentric calf muscle exercises, which have become a standard non-surgical intervention for Achilles tendinopathy. Foot orthoses have also been advocated as a treatment for Achilles tendinopathy, but the long-term efficacy of foot orthoses for this condition is unknown. This manuscript describes the design of a randomised trial to evaluate the efficacy of customised foot orthoses to reduce pain and improve function in people with Achilles tendinopathy.

Methods

One hundred and forty community-dwelling men and women aged 18 to 55 years with Achilles tendinopathy (who satisfy inclusion and exclusion criteria) will be recruited. Participants will be randomised, using a computer-generated random number sequence, to either a control group (sham foot orthoses made from compressible ethylene vinyl acetate foam) or an experimental group (customised foot orthoses made from semi-rigid polypropylene). Both groups will be prescribed a calf muscle eccentric exercise program, however, the primary difference between the groups will be that the experimental group receive customised foot orthoses, while the control group receive sham foot orthoses. The participants will be instructed to perform eccentric exercises 2 times per day, 7 days per week, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the total score of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures will be participant perception of treatment effect, comfort of the foot orthoses, use of co-interventions, frequency and severity of adverse events, level of physical activity and health-related quality of life (assessed using the Short-Form-36 questionnaire - Version two). Data will be collected at baseline, then at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Data will be analysed using the intention to treat principle.

Discussion

This study is the first randomised trial to evaluate the long-term efficacy of customised foot orthoses for the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. The study has been pragmatically designed to ensure that the study findings are generalisable to clinical practice.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12609000829213.

Hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation and osteoarthritis: current uses and future directions

Intra-articular hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation is gaining popularity as a treatment option in the nonoperative management of patients with osteoarthritis. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory, anabolic, and chondroprotective actions of hyaluronic acid reduce pain and improve patient function. With evidence mounting in support of the efficacy of this treatment modality for patients with osteoarthritis, its potential use in additional patient populations and for other pathologies affecting the knee is being investigated. The current article reviews the use of intra-articular hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation in the management of knee osteoarthritis and presents the potential for expanding its indications for other joints and alternative patient subpopulations. Additionally, future directions for the use of hyaluronic acid and areas of active research are discussed.

A prospective multi-centre, open study of the safety and efficacy of hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc) in patients with symptomatic ankle (talo-crural) osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of hylan G-F 20 in patients with ankle osteoarthritis.

METHODS

A prospective, open study in patients with symptomatic (>or=50 mm and <or=90 mm on a 100 mm VAS) ankle osteoarthritis. Patients received 1 ml x 2 ml intra-articular injection of hylan G-F 20, plus an optional, second injection if pain remained at baseline levels after 1, 2 or 3 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the pain VAS score at 3 months.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients received the first injection; 24 patients received a second. There were no serious or severe adverse events (AEs) related to the treatment. Seventeen patients experienced mild or moderate local, treatment-related AEs. The mean pain VAS score decreased from 68.0 mm (baseline) to 33.8 mm at 3 months (p<0.001), which was maintained to 6 months (34.2 mm, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Hylan G-F 20 is well-tolerated and effective for up to 6 months in the treatment of symptomatic ankle osteoarthritis.

Hyaluronic acid as a treatment for ankle osteoarthritis

Viscosupplementation refers to the concept of synovial fluid replacement with intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) for the relief of pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Intra-articular viscosupplementation was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997. It is currently indicated only for the treatment of pain associated with knee OA. However, OA can occur in several of the weight-bearing joints of the foot and ankle. Ankle OA produces chronic disability that directly impacts the quality of life. There is only limited published literature relating to the use of HA in the ankle. This paper will review the authors’ experience, indications, clinical outcomes, and complications of viscosupplementation therapy in patients with ankle OA.

Efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronan (Synvisc(R)) for the treatment of osteoarthritis affecting the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot (hallux limitus): study protocol for a randomised placebo controlled trial

Background

Osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) of the foot, termed hallux limitus, is common and painful. Numerous non-surgical interventions have been proposed for this disorder, however there is limited evidence for their efficacy. Intra-articular injections of hyaluronan have shown beneficial effects in case-series and clinical trials for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. However, no study has evaluated the efficacy of this form of treatment using a randomised placebo controlled trial. This article describes the design of a randomised placebo controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronan (Synvisc^®) to reduce pain and improve function in people with hallux limitus.

Methods

One hundred and fifty community-dwelling men and women aged 18 years and over with hallux limitus (who satisfy inclusion and exclusion criteria) will be recruited.

Participants will be randomised, using a computer-generated random number sequence, to receive a single intra-articular injection of up to 1 ml hyaluronan (Synvisc^®) or sterile saline (placebo) into the first MPJ. The injections will be performed by an interventional radiologist using fluoroscopy to ensure accurate deposition of the hyaluronan in the joint. Participants will be given the option of a second and final intra-articular injection (of Synvisc^® or sterile saline according to the treatment group they are in) either 1 or 3 months post-treatment if there is no improvement in pain and the participant has not experienced severe adverse effects after the first injection. The primary outcome measures will be the pain and function subscales of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures will be pain at the first MPJ (during walking and at rest), stiffness at the first MPJ, passive non-weightbearing dorsiflexion of the first MPJ, plantar flexion strength of the toe-flexors of the hallux, global satisfaction with the treatment, health-related quality of life (assessed using the Short-Form-36 version two questionnaire), magnitude of symptom change, use of pain-relieving medication and changes in dynamic plantar pressure distribution (maximum force and peak pressure) during walking. Data will be collected at baseline, then 1, 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Data will be analysed using the intention to treat principle.

Discussion

This study is the first randomised placebo controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronan (Synvisc^®) for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the first MPJ (hallux limitus). The study has been pragmatically designed to ensure that the study findings can be implemented into clinical practice if this form of treatment is found to be an effective treatment strategy.

Trial registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12607000654459

Viscosupplementation for grade II osteoarthritis of the ankle: a prospective study at 18 months' follow-up

BACKGROUND

Viscosupplementation, with hyaluronan derivates injected into the intra-space of osteoarthritic joints, is now widely used for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. This study evaluates the results in terms of pain and disability of intra-articular injections of hyaluronan derivates into the ankle joint in patients suffering from grade II primary or secondary osteoarthritis of the ankle.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients with a painful ankle and radiographic evidence of grade II osteoarthritis had three weekly intra-articular injections of 2 ml of hylan G-F 20 (10 mg/ml) into the ankle joint. The primary clinical outcome measurement was the ankle osteoarthritis score (AOS) at the baseline, and at 6, 12 and 18 months.

RESULTS

Significant improvement of the AOS from baseline was seen after 6 months (p=0.0001). This improvement was maintained over time with no further changes at 12- and 18-month follow-ups. Regarding pain, the AOS improved over time from the baseline to the 18-month follow up and became statistically significant at the 12- and 18-month follow-ups (p<0.05).

Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the ankle with hyaluronic acid injections: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

No studies have evaluated the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) in reducing pain caused by osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the ankle. We report our initial results with this treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen subjects aged 18 to 60 treated for OCD of the talus were followed for 26 weeks, in a pre- and post-treatment repeated measurements design, after receiving three weekly injections of intra-articular HA. The efficacy of HA injections in reducing pain and improving function was assessed at each visit and adverse events were recorded. Efficacy was evaluated by comparing scores determined using a Visual Analog Scale for pain, stiffness and function over time with baseline values. In addition, frequency of symptoms and global function over time were assessed using questionnaires and the AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale. Data analysis was made using ANCOVA models and paired t-tests. All statistical tests were based on an alpha level of 0.05.

RESULTS

The majority of subjects were male (60%) and had Grade 3 lesions (60%). Mean VAS scores, reported on a scale from 1 (e.g., no pain) to 10 (e.g., worst pain) decreased for pain (5.6 to 3.2), stiffness (5.1 to 2.9), and function (5.9 to 3.3) from baseline to week 26. Subjective global function scores, reported on a scale from 0 to 100 (with 100 representing healthy, pre-injury function), improved on average from 57.3 at baseline to 74.3 by week 26. All of these results were statistically significant, as was the decrease in frequency of pain reported by subjects at the end of the study.

CONCLUSION

OCD of the ankle treated with intra-articular injections of HA caused a decrease in pain scores and increase in global functioning over a short period of time (within 12 weeks) which then lasted for more than 6 months with minimal adverse events.

Dietary and viscosupplementation in ankle arthritis

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are the most well-marketed dietary supplements directed toward managing symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. The presumption of their benefit in the ankle is based largely on promising results from their use in knee osteoarthritis. Likewise, viscosupplementation has proved to be efficacious in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee. Preliminary studies demonstrate a realization of this benefit in the ankle joint, but further research is required. So far, the literature has shown the dietary and viscosupplementation discussed in this article to be relatively safe for use.

Safety and efficacy of intra-articular sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan) in a randomized, double-blind study for osteoarthritis of the ankle

BACKGROUND

The potential benefit of hyaluronans in alleviating pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in joints other than the knee is of increasing interest. This double-blind, randomized, controlled study examined the safety and efficacy of intraarticular sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan) in the treatment of pain associated with ankle OA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty consecutive patients with ankle OA documented by X-ray were randomized to treatment with five weekly injections of either sodium hyaluronate 2 mL (HYL) or phosphate-buffered saline 2 mL (control) in the tibiotalar joint. The primary endpoint was pain on movement and weightbearing using the Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) 3 months after injection (a 100-mm visual analog scale [VAS]). Additional measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) OA Index and patient global assessment through 6 months; the Short Form-12 (SF-12) Health Survey at 3 months and 6 months; and all reported adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

The study groups differed only in age, baseline WOMAC pain, and AOS total scores; 80% of the HYL and 73% of the control patients completed the study. At Month 3, the primary endpoint of the study, the HYL group demonstrated a significantly greater improvement from baseline in AOS total score than did the control group (HYL: -17.4 +/- 5.0 mm;

CONTROL

-5.1 +/- 4.0 mm; p = 0.0407). The incidence of AEs was low, with no significant differences between the groups. There were no post-injection flares.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that sodium hyaluronate may be a safe and effective option for pain associated with ankle OA, although larger studies are needed.

Concepts in pain management

Pain has become an increasingly recognized symptom that plays a major role in the treatment of many podiatric patients. Management of this now accepted fifth vital sign can be accomplished through many avenues. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and short- and long-acting opioids are typically used by many podiatric physicians; however, the benefits and potential hazards of other pharmaceutic approaches using antidepressants, anticonvulsants, topical medications, and other centrally acting medications must also be recognized. In addition, the role of the psychiatrist or therapist should not be neglected because many types of cognitive therapies are available to aid in treating these patients.