Viscosupplementation: a suitable option for hip osteoarthritis in young adults

Abstract

Introduction: Young adult hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a noteworthy problem, although rarer than the elderly form of the disease, causing limitations in social and working activities and prospects. Treatment options are scarce and surgical procedures, frequently necessary, imply the major drawback of revising the prostheses periodically, whereas chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) consumption may provoke side effects. To explore alternative options to both surgery and long-term NSAID use, especially in the case of young patients, viscosupplementation seems to appear as an appropriate tool to relieve pain, ameliorate the function and delay surgery.

Aim of the study: In this study we tackle the issue of the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) injections in young adults with symptomatic hip OA.

Results and conclusions: These data, collected from 78 young patients, show that viscosupplementation is a safe procedure, and may provide significant relief from pain and functional recovery. Larger controlled studies are needed to establish otpimal treatment strategies and clinical factors predictive of treatment response.