The Use of Intra-Articular Hydrogel in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.
Ashton Kai Shun Tan, Vijay Vengkat Samynathan C, Muhammad Sulaiman Dh et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review assessed clinical outcomes after intra-articular hydrogel injections in patients with knee osteoarthritis. It included 12 studies comprising 1,413 patients, with an average follow-up of 11 months. Most studies reported clinical improvements exceeding the minimal clinically important difference. However, the evidence was heterogeneous, and risk-of-bias assessment found high risk among the randomized controlled trials and low to moderate risk among non-randomized studies. The authors conclude that hydrogel injections remain under investigation and that better-designed trials are needed to establish their role in routine care.
Key findings
- The review included 12 studies comprising 1,413 patients; average follow-up was 11 months.
- Most studies reported clinical improvements above the minimal clinically important difference.
- Risk of bias was high in randomized controlled trials (n = 4) and low to moderate in non-randomized studies (n = 8).
Why it matters
Hydrogels are being investigated as intra-articular options for knee osteoarthritis, but reported improvements do not yet establish their comparative effectiveness or durability. The heterogeneous evidence and methodological concerns make it difficult to determine their place alongside existing injections or in routine care.
What to keep in mind
The evidence was heterogeneous and methodologically limited; randomized controlled trials had high risk of bias, and average follow-up was 11 months.