One intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection may work as well as multiple injections

Single injections of intra-articular hyaluronic acid seem to work as well as multiple injections in terms of pain relief in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, experts report in Current Therapeutic Research, Clinical and Experimental.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of synovial fluid so hyaluronan injections help to lubricate joints, giving temporary pain relief. Usually, people are given a course of three to five injections, each separated by one to three weeks. However, a review of the evidence suggests that only one injection may be needed.

Over 4,000 people (63% women, average age 61 years) from 28 studies were included in the review. The experts comment:

“This meta-analysis suggests that monoinjections produce results similar to multi-injections of intra-articular hyaluronic acid in terms of pain relief in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.”

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