Scientific data of recent years confirm the efficacy of intraarticular injection of hyaluronic acid-based medicines in the treatment of primary and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joints (KJ). A number of clinical studies, including randomized ones, have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate (GN).
However, large-scale controlled clinical trials to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of GN in combination with chondroitin sulfate (CS) for intraarticular administration were not performed.
Purpose of the study. Evaluation of the efficacy, tolerability and safety of intra-articular injections of the combined GN medicine and cholesterol in patients with primary and post-traumatic OA of KJ.
Material and methods. The open controlled randomized single-center clinical trial included 142 patients with primary and / or post-traumatic OA of KJ. They were randomized into 2 groups using random numbers. The first (main) group included 72 patients who were on outpatient treatment and received a single intra-articular injection of the combined GN medicament and chondroitin sulfate (60/90 mg in a prefilled syringe of 3 ml) into the knee joint cavity. The comparison (control) group included 70 patients who received only the oral form of a symptomatic slow-acting medicine (chondroitin sulfate 1000 mg/ day) for 6 months.
Results. When analyzing the total efficacy within 6 months after a single intrasynovial injection of GN in combination with chondroitin sulfate, an improvement or significant improvement was observed in 89% of patients of the 1st group. In the 2nd group, this figure was only 69%. In the 1st group, pain reduction was significantly more fixed on the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the total WOMAC index.
Conclusion. GN in combination with chondroitin sulfate for intrasynovial injections is an effective and safe medicine for knee joint OA treatment. The medicine has excellent tolerability. A single intra-articular injection of it reliably reduces pain, morning stiffness and improves the functional activity of the joints for 6 months.

Keywords: osteoarthritis, sodium hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, pain, intraarticular injection, total WOMAC index