A Double-Blind, Active-Controlled Clinical Trial of Sodium Bicarbonate and Calcium Gluconate in the Treatment of Bilateral Osteoarthritis of the Knee.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intra-articular injections of sodium bicarbonate with a single (SBCG1) or double dose (SBCG2) of calcium gluconate administered monthly compared with methylprednisolone (MP) for treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: A 3-month, randomized, double-blind clinical trial with patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The outcome variables were the Western Ontario-McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Lequesne functional index.

Effectiveness of intra-articular injections of sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Background: A novel therapeutic management of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee was assessed. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of monthly sodium bicarbonate with a single (SBCG1) or double dose (SBCG2) of calcium gluconate injections on OA of the knee; as well as the efficacy and safety of both SBCG interventions in the long term.

Methods: A double-blind parallel-group clinical trial with 74 knee OA patients was performed during 12 months, both SBCG interventions were followed-up for another 6mo after intervention.