Hyaluronic acid (HA) is used for intraarticular treatment of hip osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of intraarticular injection of HA through a lateral approach under fluoroscopic control for advanced hip OA.
The study included 21 patients with advanced hip OA. All patients received 2.5 ml HA injection once a week for 3 weeks by lateral approach under fluoroscopic control. Disability (Lequesne index), pain scores (visual analog scale-VAS) and analgesic use of patients were assessed before treatment and 1, 3 and 6 months after the treatment.
Lequesne index and VAS pain scores measured 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment were significantly lower compared to baseline scores (p<0.001). Although analgesic use was significantly reduced 1 and 3 months after treatment compared to baseline (p<0.05), no difference was determined in analgesic use at the 6th month (p>0.05). No side effect was observed.
In conclusion, intraarticular HA injection through a lateral approach under fluoroscopic control was shown to be a safe and effective method for patients with advanced hip OA.