Effects of Knee Injections on Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

Therapeutic Effects of Knee Intra-articular Injections on Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: a Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

Using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design to compare the immediate, short-term, and intermediate-term additional therapeutic effects of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection and dextrose injection to hyaluronic acid injection on patients with knee osteoarthritis, under the basis of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

A total of 60 patients will be collected. The participants will be randomized into three groups, including the hyaluronic acid combined corticosteroid group, hyaluronic acid combined dextrose group, and hyaluronic acid combined normal saline group (placebo group). The functional performance and knee-related quality of life (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index、Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), pain (pressure threshold by pain pressure ergometer), and physical activity (10 meters normal and fast walk, up and downstairs, 5 repeated chair-rising time, timed up and go test) and image progression by high-resolution ultrasound will be evaluated before treatment, one week after injections, one month after injections, three months after injections, and six months after injections.

Participants and evaluators will be both blinded to the group's allocation during the whole course of intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis
2. can walk for 15 meters
3. Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or greater
4. can follow up for 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Major diseases will affect balance, such as stroke
2. infectious disease,
3. rheumatoid arthritis,
4. malignancy
5. pregnancy or prepare to pregnant
6. received knee injections in the past 6 months
7. previous knee operation history