What Are Hyaluronic Acid Joint Injections?
Hyaluronan occurs naturally in the synovial fluid that surrounds the joints. Hyaluronan is a thick liquid that helps lubricate the joints, making them work more smoothly. It’s also a shock absorber. It prevents your bones from bearing the full force of impact when you walk. In people with osteoarthritis, the consistency of hyaluronan becomes thinner. As a result, it does a worse job of cushioning the bones. The idea behind hyaluronic acid joint injections is to replace some of the natural supply that’s been lost. The procedure is simple. Hyaluronic acid is injected directly into the cavity around the knee joint. A typical course of treatment is one injection a week for three to five weeks. While it has only been FDA-approved for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, it’s sometimes tried in other joints as well. There are various different brands of hyaluronan including : • Euflexxa • Hyalgan • Orthovisc • Supartz • Synvisc While the types do differ in some ways, H. Ralph Schumacher J
