Role of viscosupplementation in the management of primary osteoarthritis knee

Background: Viscosupplementation is frequently used as a therapeutic strategy to manage patients with early osteo-arthritis of knees. A case series was followed up for a period of one year to study the clinical efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections in different Kellegren Lawrence grades of osteoarthritis knee. Methods: 76 patients with primary osteoarthritis of knee not responding to analgesics, Quadriceps strengthening exercises, superficial and deep heat modalities were recruited after meeting inclusion criteria. They were followed up till the end of one year at an interval of every four months. Seventy patients completed the study and were analyzed for pain, stiffness and physical function using WOMAC osteoarthritis index. WOMAC scores were documented at initial consultation and follow up visits at the end of fourth, eighth and twelfth month. Results: Patients with Grade 1 and 2 osteoarthritis knee showed improvement in pain, stiffness and physical function following viscosupplementation lasting for one year. Those with Grade 3 osteoarthritis knee initially revealed good pain relief, enhanced function clinically till the second follow up. After that majority of the patients with Grade 3 osteoarthritis demanded for another session of viscosupplementation and expressed worsening of their knee symptoms. In Grade 4 osteoarthritis knee viscosupplementation found to be clinically and statistically ineffective. Adverse reactions following intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections included pain in five patients, pain and swelling in three patients, and injection site erythema in one patient. Conclusions: Viscosupplementation is a good therapeutic strategy in management of Grade 1-2 osteoarthritis knee. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections in Grade 3 osteoarthritis knee helps in delaying surgical intervention. It is in effective in Grade 4 osteoarthritis knee.