Radiographic Evaluation and Comparison of Chondroprotective Effects of Hyaluronic Acid and Triamcinolone in a Rat Model of Osteoarthritis

Objective: To evaluate and compare the chondroprotective effects of Hyaluronic acid and triamcinolone at radiographic level in rat model of osteoarthritis. Study Design: Laboratory based Randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Pharmacology Department, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, from May to July 2019. Materials and Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced by medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament resection in right knee joints of twenty-four rats. They were divided in three groups with eight rats in each. Group I, II and III were treated with intra articular saline, hyaluronic acid, and triamcinolone once weekly for four weeks respectively. After one week, radiographs of corresponding knee joint of anesthetized rats were taken. Results: Collective comparison of radiographs of control, hyaluronic acid and triamcinolone groups exhibited a p value of 0.001 While intergroup comparison of group I and II, group I and III and group II and III depicted p value of 0.05, 0.01 and 0.01 respectively. Conclusion: Intra articular administration of hyaluronic acid and triamcinolone exhibited chondroprotective effects at radiological level in a rat model of osteoarthritis. On comparison of treatment groups, it was concluded that hyaluronic acid has better chondroprotective effects as compared to triamcinolone.