Viscosupplementation: Early Treatment Helps Many Knee Arthritis Sufferers Avoid Surgery

Approved for treating osteoarthritis of the knee since 1999

, viscosupplementation is commonly performed by Dr. Ralph Venuto, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Orange County. The procedure helps provide support, cushioning, and lubrication to osteoarthritic joints. Its focus is on pain relief along with improved mobility and range of motion. Viscosupplementation can offer big benefits, with many patients - who may have suffered for years - being able to get back to a normal lifestyle without pain slowing them down.

The Procedure: Viscosupplementation

During the procedure, the orthopedic surgeon begins by injecting a preparation of a thick hyaluronic gel which is like synovial fluid into the knee joint. The synovial membrane is the inner membrane of tissue that lines a joint and normally produces the lubricating fluid. The hyaluronic gel acts like "joint oil", to lubricate the joints and enables them to glide smoothly while eliminating grinding and discomfort. Hyaluronic gel cushions and nourishes the cartilage. Think of it as motor oil for your joints that needs to be replaced.

In an individual suffering from osteoarthritis, there is wearing away of the joint cartilage-in addition to loss of joint lubrication due to a decrease of synovial fluid. As a result, the loss of lubrication causes pain in the joint, problems with mobility, and stiffness of the knee joint. Those suffering from osteoarthritis typically have decreased levels of hyaluronic acid concentration in the joints. Synovial fluid is known to contain hyaluronic acid, so viscosupplementation with a hyaluronic gel mimics the functionality of synovial fluid to help improve the level of activity and function of the patient.

Viscosupplementation involves administration of a series of four hyaluronic gel injections. The goal of this therapy is to:

Re-establish shock absorption, lubrication, protection, and barrier effects

Desensitize sensory receptors

Prevent cartilage degradation

Reduce pain from joint osteoarthritis

Improve mobility

Restore homeostasis of the joint

Supply an elastoviscous shield for the regeneration of normal tissue

Choosing viscosupplementation therapy from a reputable Orange County orthopedic specialist can help you get rid of the pain from osteoarthritis of the knee.

Treatment

Before administering the hyaluronic gel injection, any excess fluid present in the knee and causing swelling will be removed. Viscosupplementation is most effective if the osteoarthritis is in its early stages. Several studies have shown that viscosupplements such as Orthovisc - unlike other products used - can provide relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee for approximately six months, and should be repeated every six months to optimize the effects.

Results

Up to 85% of patients are able to postpone knee replacement surgery after viscosupplementation. The overall effectiveness of viscosupplementation rests heavily on how accurately the hyaluronic gel is placed into the joint space. Dr. Venuto is on the leading edge of orthopedics in his use of ultrasound technology. Since hyaluronic gel injections must be placed precisely into the joint space, he uses ultrasonic imaging as a visual guide for accurate placement of the viscosupplementation injection process. Studies show that without using this technology for image confirmation of needle placement, injections can miss the joint space up to 30% of the time. When injections are inaccurately administered into the soft tissue surrounding the joint, patients may not receive optimal results.

More and more people are learning the benefits of viscosupplementation, and the treatment is improving osteoarthritis symptoms for many people who are not achieving adequate pain reduction through the use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and aspirin, or more traditional treatment methods. Make sure you talk with your doctor for more information before beginning treatment.

by: Scott Taylor

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