Extract
To The Editor:I am writing to comment on the article entitled "Corticosteroid
Compared with Hyaluronic Acid Injections for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
of the Knee. A Prospective, Randomized Trial" (2003;85:1197-203), by
Leopold et al.I am a physician who has used hyaluronic acid injections for the past five
years. Although I have had similar early results with various products,
overall I believe that hyaluronic acid lasts much longer than does
corticosteroid treatment. Therefore, I question the results of this study on
the basis of my own clinical experience. More importantly, I have found that a
combination of glucosamine and hyaluronic acid injections seems to prolong and
to improve the rapid onset of benefits. In many patients, the painfree
interval has been extended from six months to one year. I have become so
comfortable with and supportive of this combination treatment that I am
extending the indications to younger and younger individuals with early
chondromalacia of various aspects of the knee.