A recent study has shown that commonly used injections to treat patients with osteoarthritis are not very effective at relieving pain and may even increase the risks of harmful side effects. Hyaluronic acid injections have been prescribed to patients since the 1970s; however, despite previous research concluding that the treatment is ineffective, the usage of these injections has continued to increase in some countries.
Knee arthritis is a leading cause of disability among the elderly, according to the study, which concluded that more than 560 million people globally suffer from this condition. This inflammation causes the cartilage in the knee joints to deteriorate, leading to pain and difficulty walking frequently.
Hyaluronic acid injections, a gel-like substance, have long been used in the joint to lubricate movement and reduce pain. The authors of the study, published in the BMJ scientific journal, analyzed 169 previous trials comparing individuals who received hyaluronic acid injections with others who received a placebo or did not undergo any treatment.
The researchers then focused their analysis on 24 large trials with placebo treatments that included nearly 9,000 patients, marking the largest review of the available data to date. The researchers found "strong conclusive evidence" that "increased viscosity is associated with a clinically irrelevant reduction in pain severity," according to the study. They also stated that the treatment "is associated with a higher rate of serious adverse events," indicating that these injections are "not only ineffective compared to placebo treatment, but they may also be dangerously harmful." The study highlighted that more than 12,000 patients underwent futile treatment between 2009 and 2021. It noted that the use of the treatment in the United States significantly increased from 2012 to 2018, with one in seven patients suffering from this condition receiving a hyaluronic acid injection, which had become the first treatment for many.
