Intraarticular treatment of osteoarthritis and guidelines to its assessment

Intraarticular treatment has been considered for osteoarthritis since the first attempts at local injection of steroid derivatives. To assess the effectiveness of intraarticular drugs, in view of the variability of the disease and the remarkable placebo response, a control group of patients is necessary. The main outcome measures are pain and joint effusion when using symptomatic slow acting drugs. If a chondroprotective effect is to be demonstrated the main criterion is measurement on standardized radiography of the knee medial femorotibial joint space.