Intra-articular hyaluronate, tenoxicam and vitamin E in a rat model of osteoarthritis: evaluation and comparison of chondroprotective efficacy.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate and compare the chondroprotective efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid, tenoxicam and vitamin E in osteoarthritis. METHODS An osteoarthritis model was created by anterior cruciate ligament transection and medial menisectomy in knees of 28 rats. The rats were randomized into four groups; first group served as a control group and received intra-articular injections of saline solution, intra-articular HA, intra-articular tenoxicam and intra-articular Vit E were applied to the treatment groups. First intra-articular injections were applied at second week postoperatively and repeated once a week for 5 weeks. At 8th week after the operation groups were compared based on the histologic scores of cartilage degeneration by Mankin Histological Grading Scale. RESULTS Total cartilage degeneration score was significantly increased in the control group (P=0.004). Total Mankin scores of HA, tenoxicam and Vit E groups were significantly lower than the control group (P=0.004, P=0.016, P=0.012 respectively). There was no statistically siginificant difference between the treatment groups in terms of total Mankin scores (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Intra-articular application of HA, tenoxicam and Vit E are chondroprotective in early osteoarthritis model in rats. Chondroprotective activity of tenoxicam and Vit E are comparable with the beneficial effects of HA on articular cartilage.