The Effect of Intra-Articular Injections of Hyaluronic Acid for the Treatment of Trapezio-Metacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis of the basal thumb joint is a debilitating disease with a high prevalence. Among pharmacological treatments, intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid have been clinically applied. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid for the treatment of trapezio-metacarpal joint osteoarthritis (TMOA), over a one-year period. Methods: Patients with TMOA were enrolled and treated with five consecutive intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (20 mg/2 mL, 500–750 KDa, HyalganBio) at weekly intervals. Primary outcomes were pain during different activities (changes in numerical rating scale) and function (pinch and grip strength), and secondary outcomes were safety (adverse events) and patient-reported outcomes (quick-DASH and SF-12). The outcomes were evaluated at baseline and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12- months after the last injection. Results: A total of 29 patients were included. All participants completed the five injective sessions and the first follow-up. A total of 15 patients completed the study. During the follow-up period, intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid have significantly reduced spontaneous and provoked pain and improved disability. No severe systemic adverse events were reported. Conclusions: At a follow-up of up to 12 months, patients with TMOA treated with intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections reported improvements in pain relief and quality of life.