Viscosupplementation for Knee Arthritis

When you have knee arthritis, it can be difficult to do every day activities like walking, going up and down stairs, and playing sports. At Ross Medical Group, our goal is to get you back on your feet so you can get back to doing the activities that you enjoy. If you are suffering from knee arthritis and have not yet found a helpful therapy, viscosupplementation injections may be for you. Our Sports Medicine specialist, David A. Ross MD, has been specially trained to administer viscosupplementation injections.

What is Viscosupplementation?

Viscosupplementation is a treatment option for those with arthritis of the knee. It is administered through a series of injections into the joint. It is believed that by replacing the thinned joint fluid of the arthritic joint by Hyaluronic Acid (a naturally occurring substance in healthy joint fluid) that lubrication will again be provided for the joint. Increased protection of the joint and decreased pain is the expectant result.

What is Hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a key component of the joint fluid. It gives the joint fluid its viscous, slippery quality, which helps to add “cushion” to protect your knee joint when you are on your feet. It also helps to enable the bones’ cartilage-covered surfaces to glide more smoothly against each other, thereby reducing joint friction.

Joints affected by osteoarthritis typically have a lower concentration of hyaluronic acid in their joint fluid than healthy joints, and therefore less protection against joint friction and impact. Experts believe this further accelerates the joint degeneration process, which can make your knee pain even worse.

How do the Injections work?

As its name implies, viscosupplementation artificially supplements the joint fluid’s natural viscosity. By injecting this into the knee, we expect a temporary lubrication of the knee joint, thereby decreasing pain, improving function and hopefully slowing the degeneration process.

By adding hyaluronic acid to the existing joint fluid of an arthritic knee, the goal is to:

• Reduce the amount of pain in your knee
• Improve your range of motion and overall knee movement
• Slow down the progression of arthritis in the knee joint

Who can get Viscosupplementation Injections?

The typical patient who would consider viscosupplementation has knee arthritis and has failed or had limited improvement with medications, corticosteroid injections and therapeutic exercises. It may be considered in those who are trying to delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.

How do I get these injections?

Please call our office at 305-279-7677 to set up a consultation with Dr. David Ross.

Author

David A. Ross, MD Sports Medicine Physician