VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION IN THE TREATMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC ARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE FOR 12 MONTHS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Post-traumatic arthritis is a frequent complication of intra-articular fractures of the knee, which causes pain and functional limitation. A therapeutic option that has shown promising results is the intra-articular infusion of hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation), with or without exercise and diet to lose weight. Objective: To assess the response to treatment of post-traumatic arthritis of the knee with use of viscosupplementation with or without exercise. Methods: We evaluated the arc of joint motion, popliteal retraction angle, visual pain scale, Lysholm score, and thigh circumference in patients undergoing surgical correction of the tibial plateau fracture at our institution, which, after surgical and physical therapy discharge, were treated with viscosupplementation in a single infusion with or without programmed exercise during follow-up of 12 months. Results: There was significant difference in favor of the group subjected to viscosupplementation associated with exercises for the retraction popliteal angle (p=0.012) and thickness of the thigh 10 cm above the patella (p=0.047). In all the other variables, the results in this group were also higher, but did not reach the corresponding statistical significance. All patients would be willing to repeat the infusion after 12 months. Conclusion: The viscosupplementation brought improvement in pain and function to patients with post-traumatic arthritis of the knee and the improvement is greater when exercises are associated in follow-ups of 12 months.