The influence of intraarticular injections on articular cartilage of knee joints in patients with osteoarthritis

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the influences of intraarticular injections of various substances on articular cartilage of knee with osteoarthritis. Methods Twelve rabbits were divided into an experimental ( n =8) and two control (a and b, n =4) groups. Osteoarthritis models were established using the Vandman's technique in all of the 8 rabbits of experimental group and 2 of the control group b, then the delta cortef solution, sodium hyaluronate, medical oxygen, and salvia miltiorrhiza solution were injected, respectively, into the affected knee joints of each two of the 8 rabbits, leaving the 2 rabbits of control group b not injected. Optic and electron microscopic examinations were conducted to observe the pathological changes of articular cartilage of the knee of these animals. Results The results showed that, sodium hyaluronate exhibited beneficial effect on repairment of the involved articular cartilage of the knee with osteoarthritis resulted from long term disuse of the joint. Salvia miltiorrhiza solution also had certain beneficial effects on it, but was not as significant as sodium hyaluronate. Both the delta cortef and medical oxygen exerted no significant beneficial effect in this study. Conclusion Certain therapeutic agents might be helpful, when they are properly selected and used in the form of injection therapy, in the management of osteoarthritis.