Intra-articular viscosupplementation in patients with hip osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint disorders in people above 50 years of age. Owing to increasing life expectancy, the incidence of hip OA is expected to increase. There are several options for the treatment of hip OA, one of which is the intra-articular infiltration of hyaluronic acid (HA). Although the exact functions of this glycosaminoglycan are not really understood, HA has a well-known positive effect in the treatment of knee OA, but there is no statistically significant evidence that it is also helpful in the treatment of hip OA. Several studies have shown promising results, but most studies have included only small numbers of patients. Another problem with the available studies is the lack of control groups (placebo-controlled studies). This article discusses the biomechanical and chemical properties of HA in joints and provides a review of the literature concerning the effect of HA in hip OA.