Comparison of Hyaluronic Acid and Corticosteroid Intra-articular Injections for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Inclusion Criteria: 1. an age between 30 and 70years 2. radiographic evidence of OA of the hip (Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale 1-3) 3. chronic pain for at least 3 months prior to study entry (day 0) 4. dissatisfaction with prior attempts at non-operative management including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Kellgren and Lawrence grade 4 2. an intra-articular hip injection (with any corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid preparation or other) within the previous three months 3. non compliance to the study procedures and or non completion of the study according to investigator's judgment 4. rapid destructive hip. 5. a history of crystalline arthropathy or inflammatory arthritis, neuropathic arthropathy 6. a current other problem in the affected extremity 7. contra-indications for the use of corticosteroids (gastrointestinal ulcer, severe osteoporosis, psychiatric anamnesis, herpes simplex or zoster (viremic stadium), varicella, 8 weeks before and 2 weeks after immunization, systemic mycosis, poliomyelitic except of bulbar encephalitic form lymphadenitis after BCG-vaccination, parenteral depot medication, closed- and wide-angle glaucoma) 8. allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study medications or to contrast solutions.