Intra-articular treatments for hindfoot osteoarthritis.

Abstract

Hindfoot osteoarthritis (HFOA) leads to pain, impaired function, and reduced quality of life. Conservative management aims to alleviate symptoms and delay surgical interventions such as arthrodesis, particularly in young patients with post-traumatic HFOA. Intra-articular injections of corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid are widely used as alternatives for treating foot and ankle osteoarthritis to provide temporary pain relief and functional improvement. Recently, orthobiologic treatments have gained interest for their potential regenerative effects. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on intra-articular injections for HFOA, highlighting the potential benefits, perspectives, and mechanisms of action of conventional and orthobiologic treatments such as platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, and adipose-derived stem cells.