Hylan G-F 20 was safe and effective in knee osteoarthritis and had a relatively low cost-utility ratio.

In patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), what are the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of hylan G-F 20 in addition to an appropriate care regimen? D e s i g n Randomized (allocation concealed*), un-blinded,* controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. P a t i e n t s 255 ambulatory patients with radiologically verified knee OA and a visual analogue scale (VAS) total pain score > 175 mm of 500 mm on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scale despite treatment with acetamino-phen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Exclusion criteria included grade IV radiologic changes, inflammatory anthropa-thy, a baseline study knee tense effusion, chondrocalcinosis, and severe varus or valgus study knee deformity. Follow-up was 91%.