Intraarticularhyaluronic acidinjections are one of the treatment options forknee osteoarthritis. What do we know about the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid for the hip? Have hyaluronic acid injections been studied for other joints or is it primarily used to treat knee osteoarthritis?
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Hyaluronic Acid Injections Are FDA-Approved for Knee Osteoarthritis but Not for Hips
Hyaluronic acid injections have been FDA approved for many years as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis. But the American College of Rheumatology recommends against the use of hyaluronic acid in patients with hip osteoarthritis.Nevertheless, some doctors have been using it off-label as hip injections for their patients. For example, Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical insurance considers intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid in any joint other than the knee to be investigational and not medically necessary. Researchers have studied the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid injections for the hip and the results were inconclusive.
Injectable Hyaluronic Acid Drugs
There are several brands of injectable hyaluronic acid, with Synvisc being the one that was first approved. others includeEuflexxa,Orthovisc, Hyalgan, andSupartz. Synvisc-One was approved on February 26, 2009, as a single injection formulation of Synvisc, which requires a series of three injections.
Hyaluronic Acid Ineffective for Hip Osteoarthritis
Hyaluronic acid aims to restore the normal properties of the synovial fluid. It has also been suggested that hyaluronic acid may protect thecartilage, and reduce the production and activity of inflammatory chemicals (such as pro-inflammatory mediators, matrix metalloproteinases).
According to one study, a single injection of hyaluronic acid is not effective for hip osteoarthritis, actually, no more effective than placebo.Because hyaluronic acid is rapidly cleared from joints, more than one injection could be needed to provide benefit. Rapid clearance of hyaluronic acid is just one theory of why multiple injections may produce a better result.
Studies that looked at the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid for hip osteoarthritis have been small and scarce. More studies are needed to determine if hyaluronic acid is a suitable treatment option for joints other than the knee.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections Also Falling Out of Favor for Knee Osteoarthritis
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bhandari M et. al.Corrigendum.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2017;9(11):295. doi:10.1177/1759720X17729641Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131Leite VF, Daud Amadera JE, Buehler AM.Viscosupplementation for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy on Pain and Disability, and the Occurrence of Adverse Events.Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;99(3):574-583.e1. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.07.010Jevsevar DS.Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: evidence-based guideline, 2nd edition.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21(9):571-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-571Additional ReadingHyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis, Timothy Gower, Arthritis Foundation, accessed 1/5/16.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bhandari M et. al.Corrigendum.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2017;9(11):295. doi:10.1177/1759720X17729641Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131Leite VF, Daud Amadera JE, Buehler AM.Viscosupplementation for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy on Pain and Disability, and the Occurrence of Adverse Events.Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;99(3):574-583.e1. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.07.010Jevsevar DS.Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: evidence-based guideline, 2nd edition.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21(9):571-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-571Additional ReadingHyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis, Timothy Gower, Arthritis Foundation, accessed 1/5/16.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bhandari M et. al.Corrigendum.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2017;9(11):295. doi:10.1177/1759720X17729641Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131Leite VF, Daud Amadera JE, Buehler AM.Viscosupplementation for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy on Pain and Disability, and the Occurrence of Adverse Events.Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;99(3):574-583.e1. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.07.010Jevsevar DS.Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: evidence-based guideline, 2nd edition.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21(9):571-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-571
Bhandari M et. al.Corrigendum.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2017;9(11):295. doi:10.1177/1759720X17729641
Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al.2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee.Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131
Leite VF, Daud Amadera JE, Buehler AM.Viscosupplementation for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy on Pain and Disability, and the Occurrence of Adverse Events.Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;99(3):574-583.e1. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2017.07.010
Jevsevar DS.Treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: evidence-based guideline, 2nd edition.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2013;21(9):571-6. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-09-571
Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis, Timothy Gower, Arthritis Foundation, accessed 1/5/16.
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