Intra-articular Injections for Osteoarthritis: From Bench to Bedside, can we Teach Old Drugs New Tricks?

Abstract

The two articles in this month’s press of e Journal of Arthritis, one by Ekinci et al. titled ‘A New Treatment Option in Osteoarthritis: Prolotherapy Injections’ and the other by Senatorov et al. titled ‘Clinical Outcome of Hylan G-F 20 Injections in Shoulder and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Review’ raise several important points surrounding the topic of intra-articular injections [1,2]. Firstly that there is a paucity of high quality literature in the eld that o en leads to inconclusive or misrepresented conclusions on drug e cacy in established treatments [1,2]. e articles also highlight the heterogeneity in injection procedure, site, concentration, preparation and outcome measurements [1,2]. is editorial will, therefore, provide a concise review on some of the current injection therapies and suggest possible improvements to methodological structure to inspire readers strive for high quality data. Further, through an example of a possible novel therapy, Actovegin, this editorial will hopefully challenge readers’ way of thinking to consider the reapplication of established drugs; posing the question can you teach an old drug new tricks?