Editorial Commentary: Intra-Articular Injections for Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: What Is the Current Treatment Paradigm?

Abstract

Intra-articular corticosteroids are useful for acute and short-term pain relief, whereas hyaluronic acid is useful for a longer-term treatment effect for patients with knee osteoarthritis. More rigorous research using homogeneous preparations and techniques and randomizing larger numbers of knee osteoarthritis patients are warranted before recommending any wider acceptance of platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapies. This is of utmost importance, especially with several new injectables such as anti-nerve growth factor antibodies, Wnt pathway inhibitors, and capsaicin showing promise to enter the market soon.