An observational study in Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA), sponsored by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 50 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-27.
Sponsored by Istanbul Medipol University Hospital · Observational
Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA) leads to pain and loss of function, especially in recreational athletes. While hyaluronic acid (HA) injections are a common part of conservative treatment, comparative data on the efficacy of straight-chain (ST-HA) versus cross-linked (CL-HA) formulations remain limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the 6-month efficacy of a single dose of CL-HA versus two doses of ST-HA regarding pain, stiffness, and joint function in recreational athletes aged 50-70 with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-3 Knee OA refractory to pharmacological treatment.
This retrospective observational study included 88 recreational athletes (CL-HA: n=44, ST-HA: n=44). All participants received either a single dose of CL-HA or two doses of ST-HA administered 4 weeks apart. Patients were comparatively evaluated pre-treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment using the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) and VAS scores.
3,302 studies on the registry are indexed under Osteoarthritis, Knee; 608 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 88 is below the median of 100 across 472 observational studies indexed under Osteoarthritis, Knee.
Browse Osteoarthritis, Knee studies →Istanbul Medipol University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 350 studies on the registry; 58 are open to participants now.
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This retrospective observational study was conducted in a multicenter manner and included recreational athletes aged between 50 and 70 years who applied to Medipol Esenler Hospital and Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Erenköy Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital due to knee pain and were diagnosed with gonarthrosis between January 2021 and December 2024.
Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria: Recreational athletes aged 50-70 years; participants must not have received any injections or undergone physical therapy or rehabilitation in the last 3 months; and symptomatic cases of Kellgren-Lawrence stage 2-3 knee osteoarthritis and failure of pharmacological treatment.
Exclusion Criteria: Inflammatory disease, active rheumatic disease, malignancy, bleeding diathesis, peripheral neuropathy, BMI >30, grade 4 gonarthrosis, regular NSAID use, previous knee surgery, local infection at the procedure site, corticosteroid injection at the procedure site within the last 3 months, systemic corticosteroid use within the last 2 weeks, immunosuppressant use or immunodeficiency within the last 6 weeks, and any local or systemic osteoarthritis-related treatments (therapeutic exercises, physical therapy, other injections, NSAIDs, etc.) within the last 6 months.
Straight-bonded HA injection was applied in 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.
Cross-linked HA was applied as a single dose to the knee via the anterolateral approach.
Patients were comparatively evaluated pre-treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment using the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) score.
Minimal value is 0, while maximum value is 96.
Time frame: Patients were comparatively evaluated pre-treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment
Patients were comparatively evaluated pre-treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment using the VAS score.
Minimal value is 0, while maximum value is 10.
Time frame: Patients were comparatively evaluated pre-treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment
Plan to share: Yes — After publication in a journal, I will share all IPD that underlie results in a publication
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Istanbul Medipol University Hospital