Rapid analgesic onset of intra-articular hyaluronic acid with ketorolac in osteoarthritis of the knee

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular ketorolac to improve intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) therapy in knee osteoarthritis with respect to the initiation of pain relief. METHODS: This study was designed as a single-blind study with a blinded observer and a 3-month follow-up. Forty-three patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to the ketorolac group (n=21) or the HA group (n=22). Ketorolac group members were given three weekly intra-articular injections of HA with ketorolac and then two weekly intra-articular injections of HA; and HA group members were given five weekly intra-articular HA injections. Visual analog scale (VAS), pain rating score (PRS) and adverse events were assessed at baseline and at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 16th week after treatment commencement. RESULTS: Significant improvement regarding pain assessment tools was observed in the ketorolac group by the addition of ketorolac to HA as compared with the HA group within 16 weeks of follow-up (p < 0.05). In the ketorolac group, 5 of the 21 subjects developed focal post-injection knee pain for about 8 hours after injection. CONCLUSION: Intra-articular HA with ketorolac showed more rapid analgesic onset than intra-articular HA alone and did not induce any serious complications.