To evaluate the clinical effect of sodium hyaluronate (SH) intra-articular injection in treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis (DOA) of knees.
One hundred patients (116 knees) suffered from DOA were treated by SH injection intra-articularly once a week for three times. According to Lysholm scoring, clinical signs such as pain, swelling, excludes, range of movement (ROM), and the ability of walking, going upstairs and downstairs, squatting, running, were assessed before and after treatment.
Ninety-six cases were followed up for 1 to 6 months. There were obvious improvements in the signs and function of knee in 39 patients (40.6%), only some improvements in 48 patients (50.0%), and no obvious improvements in other 9 patients (9.4%). The total effectiveness rate was 74.0%. No toxic or side effect was observed.
Intraarticular injection of SH has a positive effect in relief of clinical symptoms and in improvement of articular function of DOA of knee.