Efficacy of combination drug treatment in patients with osteoarthritis of ankle joint

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of aceclofenac, tolperisone and chondroprotective agent in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of ankle joint.

Material and methods

We conducted an open-label prospective study in 63 patients with OA of ankle joint who were distributed in two groups and were treated with aceclofenac, tolperisone and chondroprotective agents (group 1; n=32) or diclofenac in combination with intraarticular injections of triamcinolone (group 2; n=31).

Results

At 4 weeks, treatment in both groups resulted in a significant increase in ankle joint range of motion and a reduction in intensity of pain as measured by the visual analogue scale (the differences between the two groups were insignificant). Ultrasound examination showed a decrease in intensity of synovitis that was more prominent in group 1. The percentages of patients without synovitis in groups 1 and 2 increased from 9.4% to 43.8% (p<0,01) and from 12.9% to 29.0% (p<0.05), respectively, whereas the percentages of patients with severe synovitis decreased from 31.2% to 3.1% (p<0.01) and from 29.0% to 6.5% (p<0.01). Treatment was well-tolerated in both groups.

Conclusion

Treatment with acelofenac and tolperisone in combination with chondroprotective drugs in patients with OA of ankle joint was more effective compared with nonselective NSAID in combination with intraarticular injections of corticosteroid.