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Hyaluronic acid improved outcomes in patients with plantar fasciopathy
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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Patients with plantar fasciopathy who received injections of high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid showed improved outcome scores and activities of daily living, according to results of a study presented at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting here.
“The improvement in VAS score from baseline to 5 weeks was significantly greater in the high hyaluronic acid (HA) group than in the placebo group. High-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid can be an alternative treatment for plantar fasciopathy without any adverse effect,” Tsukasa Kumai, MD, PhD, said.
Tsukasa Kumai
The researchers conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 168 patients randomized to one of three groups. The first group received a low dose of five weekly injections of 0.8 mL 1% HA. The second group received a high dose of five weekly injections of 2.5 mL of 1% HA and the third group received 2.5 mL of a placebo. The researchers evaluated the patients up to 5 weeks after the injections.
For the high HA group, the VAS score was 6.557±0.219 cm at baseline. For the low HA group, the VAS was 6.592±0.239 cm at baseline and the placebo group had a VAS of 6.736±0.217 cm. At 5 weeks, the VAS score was 3.329±0.296 cm for the high HA group, 4.042±0.322 cm for the low HA group and 4.247±0.294 cm for the placebo group. The researchers also recorded better Roles and Maudsley scores, local symptoms and activities of daily living after HA injections.
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“Limitation of this study was observation period was shorter,” Kumai said.
Reference:
Kumai T. Paper #42. Presented at: American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Annual Meeting; July 18-20, 2013; Hollywood, Fla.
Disclosure: Kumai receives research support from Chugai Pharmaceuticals.