Clinical Assessment of the Use of Sodium Hyaluronate in the Treatment of Chondromalacia Patellae

Abstract

Background: Review of the literatures reveals that some of them advised to use hyaluronic acid (HA) as a treatment for chondromalasia pattlae [CMP] depending on very few clinical studies, hyaluronic acid (HA) or Sodium hyaluronate, also referred to as or hyaluronan, is a viscoelastic substance that occurs naturally in synovial fluid and is thought to play an important role in lubricating, protecting, and maintaining nutrition of the articular cartilage. Objectives: To answer the following question: is there a role for (HA) in the treatment of [CMP]?

Methods: A randomized controlled trial study was carried out among 30 patients (15 patients as study group, 15 patients as control group )with [CMP] from April 2008 to December2011. For the study group: intraarticular injection of 2 mL sodium hyaluronate solution, once per week, for 3 weeks + quadriceps strengthening exercises.
For the control group: quadriceps strengthening exercises only.

Follow-up for both groups was done every 6 months until 2 years and results regarding improvement were evaluated by Fisher's exact test, the corresponding 95% of confidence interval (95% C.I) was used.