BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Intra-articular injection of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid; HA) products is available to treat early osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee in Taiwan. We tested whether HA products with different molecular weights have significantly different effects on clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness. METHODS Thirty-seven patients with mild to moderate OA of both knees underwent five weekl...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between function, pain and stiffness outcomes with individual and community socioeconomic status (SES) measures among individuals with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (rOA). METHODS Cross-sectional data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project were analyzed for adults age 45 and older with knee rOA (n = 782) and a sub...

BACKGROUND Autologous conditioned serum (ACS) is an autologous blood product that has shown efficacy against knee osteoarthritis (OA) in randomized controlled trials. However, there are few reports of its effectiveness in everyday practice. Here, we report clinical efficacy results from a two-year prospective observational study of patients with highly symptomatic knee OA who received ACS in co...

OBJECTIVE To translate into Arabic and validate the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index. METHOD Arabic translation was obtained with use of the forward and backward translation method. Adaptations were made after a pilot study. Patients with symptomatic knee OA fulfilling the revised criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were included. Impairment outcome measure...

Outcomes: Primary outcome was change in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) physical function score at 6 months. Other outcomes were Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale pain score, Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey physical activity scale, and treatment success (≥ 8-point improvement in WOMAC physical function score without cross...

BACKGROUND To investigate and compare the impact of primary hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty on quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis, to determine patients' satisfaction with total joint arthroplasty, and to detect the effect of patients' demographic and clinical characteristics on outcome. METHODS Three hundred seventy eight (378) patients with hip (174) and knee (204) osteoa...

OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts in pain reduction and functional improvement. METHODS 367 primary knee osteoarthritis patients with a pain score of 5 or higher were randomized to receive ibuprofen 1,200 mg/day or C. domestica extracts 1,500 mg/day for 4 weeks. The main outcomes were Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WO...

BACKGROUND Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective, but also cost-intensive health care intervention for end stage osteoarthritis. This investigation was designed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of TKA before versus after introduction of an interdisciplinary clinical pathway from a University Orthopedic Surgery Department's cost perspective as an interdisciplinary full service health c...

OBJECTIVE To determine the preoperative strength of the muscle group of the lower extremity that is most important in predicting functional recovery after primary unilateral total hip replacement (THR). DESIGN Prospective observational study with inception cohort. SETTINGS Joint care program (hospital care/clinical division of a nursing home/outpatient physical therapy). PARTICIPANTS Pati...