Use of Exogenous Hyaluronic Acid for the Treatment of Patellar Chondropathy- A Six-Month Randomized Controlled Trial

The role of viscosupplementation in patellar chondropathy

Patellar chondropathy has a high incidence in the general population, being more common in patients younger than 50 years, female and recreational athletes, and overweight and obese patients. The most common complaints are pain, limited mobility, crepitus, difficulty climbing and descending stairs, and joint instability, usually showing unsatisfactory results with anti-inflammatory, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and many other conservative treatment methods. The presumed hyaluronic acid (HA) disease-modifying activity may include effects on cartilage degradation, endogenous HA synthesis, synoviocyte and chondrocyte function, and other cellular inflammatory processes. Currently, HA is widely used as a safe and effective conservative treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee and other joints. HA improves the physiological environment in an osteoarthritic joint and the shock absorption and lubrication properties of the osteoarthritic synovial fluid, thus restoring the protective viscoelasticity of the synovial HA, reducing the pain, and improving the mobility. The complete mechanism of HA in the joint is not fully understood, but a wide range of actions in the joint is recognized. Its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and chondroprotective action is related to the modulation of the intra- and extracellular inflammation cascade. HA has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of pain related to patellar chondropathy.

Use of hyaluronic acid injection after arthroscopic release in lateral patellar compression syndrome with degenerative cartilage changes: randomized control trial

Background

Degenerative cartilage changes can be seen, in cases of lateral patellar compression syndrome, involving the patellofemoral joint. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the synovial fluid and responsible for its elastic features and function of articular surfaces. The aim of this study is to show the effect of intra-articular injection of Hyaluronic acid, after arthroscopic lateral release in lateral patellar compression syndrome, on the functional outcome and knee pain in those patients with degenerative cartilage changes.

Method

Ninety patients age (30–50) years with lateral patellar compression syndrome and degenerative cartilage changes were divided randomly into 2 groups. Group A was treated by arthroscopic lateral release and received intraarticular injection of Hyaluronic acid 2 weeks after surgery. Group B was treated by arthroscopic lateral release only. Both groups were assessed by Kujala score and visual analogue scale for knee pain preoperatively and re-assessed postoperatively at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months.

Results

There was significant improvement in Kujala score and Visual analogue scale post-operatively in both groups (P-value< 0.001) with better improvement in Kujala score in group A after intra-articular injection of Hyaluronic acid up to 2 year of follow up (P-value = 0.006) as well as better improvement in visual analogue score at 6 months post-operatively (P-value = 0.035).

Conclusion

Intra-articular injection of Hyaluronic acid after arthroscopic release, in patients with lateral patellar compression syndrome and degenerative cartilage changes, can result in better improvement of knee pain and functional outcome up to 2 years of follow up.

Trial registration

NCT, NCT04134611. Registered 18 October 2019 -Retrospectively registered.