Thomas J Chang | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Sodium hyaluronate in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle: a controlled, randomized, double-blind pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Intra-articular injections of hyaluronans have been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. This pilot study was undertaken to gather preliminary data on the efficacy and safety of five weekly intra-articular injections of Hyalgan (sodium hyaluronate; molecular weight, 500 to 730 kDa) as compared with saline solution for the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the ankle. METHODS: Twenty patients at two test sites were randomized with use of a double-blind (blinded observer), saline solution-controlled, parallel experimental design. Patients were randomized to receive five weekly intra-articular injections of either 1 mL of sodium hyaluronate (10 mg/mL) or 1 mL of phosphate-buffered saline solution into the ankle joint. The primary outcome measurement was the ankle osteoarthritis score. Several secondary outcome measures also were assessed. RESULTS: Significant improvement in the mean ankle osteoarthritis score from baseline was seen at all follow-up visits from one to six months in both the sodium hyaluronate group and the saline solution group (p < 0.0001). In addition, five of nine patients in the sodium hyaluronate group had >30 mm of improvement in this score, compared with one of eight patients in the control group. No withdrawals were directly attributable to the injections of sodium hyaluronate or saline solution, and no severe medication-related adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that five weekly intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate (molecular weight, 500 to 730 kDa) are well tolerated, can provide sustained relief of pain, and can improve function in patients with osteoarthritis of the ankle. These findings are consistent with those of previously published studies involving intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate in other joints, but they require confirmation in a large, randomized, saline solution-controlled study.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2006

Topical 5% 5-fluorouracil cream in the treatment of plantar warts: a prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical study.

Topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antineoplastic antimetabolite that inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis, thereby preventing cell replication and proliferation. This mechanism of action may allow topical 5-FU to be utilized in the treatment of human papilloma virus (HPV). We conducted a study comparing 5% 5-FU cream under tape occlusion versus tape occlusion alone in 40 patients presenting with plantar warts. Nineteen out of 20 patients (95%) randomized to 5% 5-FU with tape occlusion had complete eradication of all plantar warts within 12 weeks of treatment. The average time to cure occurred at 9 weeks of treatment. Three patients (15%) had a recurrence at the 6-month follow-up visit; accordingly, an 85% sustained cure rate was observed. It is concluded that use of topical 5% 5-fluorouracil cream for plantar warts is safe, efficacious, and accepted by the patient.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2004

Lateral column fusions.

There is a considerable amount of literature on the treatment of the medial column. The lateral column is sometimes as difficult and can also pose biomechanical challenges. The distinction of medial or lateral column pain is dependent on the patient's foot type. The senior author has observed that lateral column pain is much more prevalent in a neutral to supinated foot. Chronic pain and end-stage arthrosis of the lateral column joints can be treated successfully with the approaches discussed. As the Achilles tendon is important in medial column collapse, its contribution to lateral column pathology should also be considered.

Arthrodesis↗