Comparative, double-blind, controlled study of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (Hyalubrix ® ) injections versus local anesthetic in osteoarthritis of the hip

Introduction Comparison of intra-articular bacterial-derived hyaluronic acid (Hyalubrix ® ) (HA) with local analgesia (mepivacaine) for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. Methods A pilot prospective, double-blind, 6-month randomized trial of 42 patients with hip OA. HA or mepivacaine was administered twice (once a month) under ultrasound guidance. Efficacy measurements included the Lequesne’s algofunctional index, a visual analog scale for pain, concomitant use of analgesia, patient and physician global measurement, and safety. Results Patients in the HA group exhibited a significantly reduced Lequesne’s algofunctional index 3 and 6 months after treatment ( P < 0.001) and significantly reduced visual analog scale pain scores 3 and 6 months after treatment ( P < 0.05) compared with the local anesthetic group. All primary and secondary measures were significantly improved versus baseline, but other than the above were not different from each other at 3 or 6 months. Adverse effects were minimal. Conclusions This comparative study suggests a beneficial effect and safety of intra-articular HA in the management of hip OA. Trial registration number ISRCTN39397064.