• CareCredit Pay Online
  • Resources
  • Blog
P: (225) 754-8888 | F: (225) 755-2147
(225) 754-8888
HealthFlex
×
  • Practice Areas
    • Diabetes
    • Foot and Ankle
    • Hands, Wrist & Elbow
    • Hip Pain
    • Knee Pain
    • Neck and Back
    • Shoulder
    • Work Related Injuries
    • Wellness Visits
  • Treatment Options
    • Physical Therapy
    • Revision Surgery
    • PRP
    • Stem Cell Therapy
    • Total Ankle Replacement
    • Telemedicine
    • Medical Marijuana
    • Baton Rouge IV Therapy
  • Wellness
    • The Healing Sole – Plantar Fasciitis Pain
    • Well Theory – Natural Medicine By Dr. Warner
    • Aesthetic Wellness
    • Medical Marijuana
  • Providers
    • Meredith Warner, MD
    • Kyle Lindow, DPM
    • Mary Nell Andereson, MD
    • Danielle Imarata, PT, DPT
    • Lauren Broussard APRN
    • Orthopedic Surgeon
    • Podiatrist
  • Educational Seminars
  • Contact
  • Blog

What is Viscosupplementation?

What is Viscosupplementation?
August 10, 2015NewsArticleFitnessHealthMedical

Safe Treatment for Arthritis of the Knee

Viscosupplementation is a nonoperative and safe FDA approved treatment for arthritis of the knee.  It is very successful in those with early arthritis but is also sometimes successful in those with advanced arthritis.  The pain of arthritis is dependent upon a variety of factors, not simply on the extent of the progression of disease.  Radiographs of arthritis have never been directly correlated with actual pain experienced by a patient, therefore, even in advanced arthritic knees one should try viscosupplementation.

Hyaluronic Acid

The viscosupplementation used for knee arthritis is typically hyaluronic acid.  This is a naturally occurring substance in the body and it is in high concentration in the joints.  Historically, the injectable form was extracted from rooster combs and made into a gel.  Today, the gel is produced in biologic laboratories.  It acts as a cushion in the joint and lubricates the joints.  There may be a change in the body response to injury once hyaluronic acid is injected as well.  Hylauronic acid aggregates with different proteins (aggrecan monomers) and this allows it to make cartilage resistant to load or compression.

Manufacture

There are a variety of companies that make viscosupplements for the knee and you should discuss the options with your physician.  Each company’s product has pros and cons and the choice is often dependent upon the surgeon’s comfort level with a product and the patient profile.

Affect Knee Cartilage

Viscosupplementation is a way to affect cartilage in a way that benefits the patient.  The supplement is a gel that is injected directly into the knee.  Your surgeon may utilize ultrasound to ensure the accuracy of the injection.  Some surgeons prefer to inject blindly without guidance however.  The supplement is formed of hyaluronic acid; this is essentially a component of cartilage.  It works by increasing the viscosity of the joint fluid and protecting the cartilage from impact.  It also acts as an anti-inflammatory for the knee.  Finally, the supplement provides essential building blocks for the repair of cartilage.

MRI Results after Treatments

Recent advanced MRI imaging studies of cartilage before and after viscosupplementation have demonstrated that some areas of cartilage at the patellofemoral interface actually improve on imaging after supplementation.  In addition, the pain and knee function scores improved at 3 months.  Placebo controlled studies have also demonstrated the effectiveness of such treatment for knee arthritis.  A meta-analysis of many studies found that viscosupplementation had only a marginal benefit over placebo.

Nonoperative Treatment of Osteoarthritis

There are many nonoperative ways to treat osteoarthritis of the knee.  Viscosupplementation is an FDA approved injection therapy that seems to be very effective, particularly for early arthritis.  Discuss this option with your surgeon if you have arthritis and pain in the knee.

 

                            {{cta(‘5bdf3d7d-fe06-4fff-814a-274edbdda674’)}}

Ref:

Shah RP, Stambough JB, et al. T1rho magnetic resonance imaging at 3T detects knee cartilage changes after viscosupplementation. Orthopedics. July 2015 38(7)

Manfred W, Dickhut A, et al. Viscosupplementation with Hylan G-F 20: A 26-week controlled trial of efficacy and safety in the osteoarthritic knee. Clin Ther. Jay-June 1998; 20(3):410-23.

Grace HL, LaValley M, Et al. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid in treatment of knee osteoarthritis; a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2003;290(23):3115-3121

http://www.synvisconehcp.com/synvisc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyaluronan

<< Prev
Back to Blog
Next >>
Recent Posts
Free Seminar – February – Autoimmune Replay
Autoimmune Disorders That Affect Musculoskeletal System

Schedule an Appointment

    Recent Blog Posts

    • Free Seminar – February – Autoimmune Replay Feb 27
    • Autoimmune Disorders That Affect Musculoskeletal System Feb 23
    • What Causes Autoimmune Diseases Feb 19
    • How Do Peripheral Stimulator Implants Work Feb 16
    • How We Treat Nerve Pain In Our Baton Rouge Clinic Feb 12

    Warner Orthopedics & Wellness

    Warner Orthopedics & Wellness

    (225) 754-8888

    9373 Barringer Foreman Rd., BR 70817

    Physical Therapy Direct Line

    (225) 412 - 9987

    Patient Portal

    Clinic Visit

    Post-Operation Instructions

    FAQ’s for Dr. Warner

    Disclaimer

    Medical Marijuana

    Contact Us

    Latest Posts

    • Free Seminar – February – Autoimmune Replay Feb 27

      In this webinar, Dr. Warner discusses everything you need to...

    • Autoimmune Disorders That Affect Musculoskeletal System Feb 23

      Autoimmune disorders can be very debilitating and difficult to manage....

    • What Causes Autoimmune Diseases Feb 19

      Your immune system function is vital for your health. It...

    Copyright ©2022 all rights reserved
    Built by Tech Advocate Group