Scale 1994b (3 inj).

Methods	See Scale 1994a above.
Participants	Country: Germany Mean age: 59 % Female: Study B: 44 (24/55) Mean disease duration: 4.2 y Duration: 12 wk Telephone follow‐up at 26 wk Number randomised: 30 (HA 15, Pl 15) Inclusion/ Exclusion as above (Scale 1994a). Baseline group differences: 1) Significantly more patients had Grade 4 xray in PL group. 2) 3 inj group had significantly shorter disease duration at baseline.
Interventions	Hylan G‐F 20 (2 ml) 3 weekly injections Placebo: Phosphate‐ buffered saline 2.0 ml Concurrent therapy: No medication to treat arthritis pain allowed.
Outcomes	See Scale 1994a above. Assessments: Wk 0,1,2,3,8,12, 26
Notes	Jadad's:4/5 R‐1,B‐2,W‐1 See Scale 1994a above. Excluded pts with effusions. Arthrocentesis with removal of effusion if present. If bilateral OA only most painful knee treated. Research was supported by Biomatrix, Inc.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate