Comparison of therapeutic effects of sodium hyaluronate and corticosteroid injections on trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis.

This was a randomized, open-label, evaluator-blinded clinical study including 40 women with stage II or III trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. The steroid group (n = 20) received one injection of 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide once and the hyaluronate group (n = 20) received three injections of 5 mg sodium hyaluronate at 1-week intervals. The pain level was assessed using a visual analog scale and grip and pinch strengths were measured using a hand grip dynomemeter and pinch gauge.