Intraarticular and intravenous application of sodium hyaluronate to horseswith chronic joint disease

The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic results of intravenous and intraarticular application of recombinant sodium hyaluronate (Hyonate( R)) in horses with chronic joint diseases. Also the results of the treatmen t with sodium hyaluronate of horses with diseases of several joints were ev aluated. 32 patients which had received no other treatment than the tested drug were included in the study. 30 horses had chronic degenerative joint disease. B ecause of osteochondrosis 2 other horses were treated after arthroscopic su rgery. The 32 patients were divided into 3 groups. Horses of group la and Ib were randomly allocated to either intravenous or intraarticular application. Hor ses that had received intravenous treatment due to lesions in several joint s and horses whose owners chose the intravenous route of treatment after co mparing the different routes of treatment and their risks, were put in grou p 2. Each patient received an average of 1,3 injections of the tested drug. In this study 20 of 32 horses (i.e. 62,5%) were treated successfully which meant that they could return to full performance. The success rate of the s ingle groups had the following results: group 1a: 72,8%, group 1b:75,0%, Group2: 66,6% This study demonstrates that both, the intravenous and the intraarticular r oute of treatment with the tested hyaluronic acid formulation is successful in treating chronic joint disease. The effectiveness of intravenously inje cted hyaluronic acid for conditions affecting several joints has to be clar ified in further studies.