Comparing the Effect of Intraarticular Methylpredinsolone with Sodium Hyaluronate in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Knee Joint Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder in the older age patients. This study was performed to compare the efficacy of injection of methyl-prednisolone versus sodium-hyaluronate in symptomatic mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. In a randomized clinical trial، 53 patients with knee osteoarthritis were assigned to receive either methyl-prednisolone (26 patients) or sodium-hyaluronate (27 patients) in a hospital in Tehran، Iran. Sodium-hyaluronate three injections within 2-weeks interval and a single injection of 40 mg of methyl-prednisolone were given. The improvement rate was compared after one and six months. The total score significantly improved in both groups (p=. 001). There was no significant difference between the two groups after the first month (p≥. 05); but the results were better after six months in sodium-hyaluronate injection group (p=. 001). Intra-articular injection of sodium-hyaluronate in comparison with methyl-prednisolone has longer efficacy in treatment of symptoms of mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.