AHRQ on osteoarthritis knee injections
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Despite broad use, hyaluronic acid-based injections to treat osteoarthritis in the knee are not backed by high quality evidence of benefit, concludes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in a 1report released Oct. 4. Existing trials "generally show positive effects" of the treatments on pain and function scores compared with placebo, and the relative risk appears to be low, but results are undermined by "variable trial quality, potential publication bias, and unclear clinical significance of the changes reported," AHRQ writes. The agency says a rigorous, randomized controlled trial is still needed. PMA-approved injections include Hyalgan (Sanofi-Aventis), Synvisc (Genzyme), Supartz (Smith & Nephew), Orthovisc (Anika Therapeutics) and Euflexxa (Ferring Pharmaceuticals)