Comparison of therapeutic effects of sodium hyaluronate and corticosteroid injections on trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis

This was a randomized, open-label, evaluator-blinded clinical study including 40 women with stage II or III trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. The steroid group (n = 20) received one injection of 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide once and the hyaluronate group (n = 20) received three injections of 5 mg sodium hyaluronate at 1-week intervals. The pain level was assessed using a visual analog scale and grip and pinch strengths were measured using a hand grip dynomemeter and pinch gauge. The Duruoz Hand Index was used to evaluate hand function. Pain level decreased significantly over 12 months for the steroid group and over 6 months for the sodium hyaluronate group. Pinch strength did not improve in either group, but grip strength improved significantly in both groups. Hand function improved in both groups but it was only significant in the steroid group. Our findings showed that both intra-articular injection of steroid and sodium hyalurunate are effective in trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. However the steroid injection was found to be superior to sodium hyaluronate injection in reducing pain and improving hand function.