5 Sept 2024 • New research suggests that intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) injections significantly delay the need for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

An analysis of over 36,000 patients revealed that those receiving IA-HA experienced a mean delay of about one year before undergoing TKA, with a 39% lower risk of needing surgery compared to those who did not receive the injections.

Single-injection IA-HA regimens were particularly effective, showing the greatest delay in TKA (HR: 0.56).

While IA-HA generally had a low adverse event rate, the risk of infection increased with multiple injections and concurrent use of intra-articular corticosteroids. This research supports IA-HA as a valuable non-operative treatment for KOA, with careful consideration needed for the type and frequency of injections to minimize complications.

Source: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Read full story