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Home > Services > Treatments & Procedures > Knee & Lower Leg > Viscosupplementation Treatment for Arthritis
Viscosupplementation Treatment for Arthritis

VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION TREATMENT

Step-by-step | Post Injection | Side effects & Risks

Viscosupplementation is a simple outpatient procedure. Some types of viscosupplementation treatment require a one-time injection, while others require one injection a week for 3 to 5 weeks.

VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION INJECTIONS REQUIRE PRECISION

An experienced physician using imaging technology (typically ultrasound) should do hyaluronan injections. A precise injection is important for two reasons:

  • To be optimally effective, the hyaluronate injection must be made directly into the small space of the knee joint that contains articular cartilage and joint fluid.
  • If the injectable material enters the soft tissue surrounding the knee joint instead of the joint capsule, the patient may experience uncomfortable side effects.

In contrast to viscosupplementation, corticosteroid injections have a localized effect and do not require as much precision to be effective.

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VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION STEP-BY-STEP

Knee Injection
Knee injection.

Viscosupplementation is an in-office procedure that usually takes less than 5 minutes:

  • The patient lies on his or her back, with the knee either straight or bent at a 20- or 30-degree angle. If the doctor prefers the knee bent, a rolled up towel may be placed under the knee to prop it up at the proper angle.
  • The knee will wiped down with disinfectant such as alcohol or iodine.
  • The patient will be asked to relax the leg muscles; this will facilitate a successful injection and also can make the injection less painful.
  • If ultrasound is being used, a gel will be applied to small area of skin near the injection site, and a technician will gently press a hand-held ultrasound transducer against the gel-covered skin. An image of the joint space will be projected onscreen for the doctor to see.
  • The doctor may administer a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, to numb the area.
  • If the knee is swollen with excess fluid, the doctor may aspirate (draw out) this fluid with a needle and syringe.
  • Using a new syringe, the doctor will inject a small amount (often just 2 mL) of hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid, on one side of the kneecap.
  • The injection area is cleaned and bandaged.
  • The patient will be told to straighten and bend the knee several times to help spread the hyaluronate throughout the knee joint.
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FOLLOWING THE HYALURONIC ACID INJECTION

If the injection is successful in reducing the patient’s pain, the patient will be prescribed physical therapy to rehabilitate the knee and surrounding muscles, and possibly supplements.

    Physical Therapy
    While pain is lessened patients are able to participate in muscle-strengthening physical therapy. Doing simple exercises to build and maintain muscle strength around the knee joint is serves to decrease knee osteoarthritis symptoms and slow down or halt joint degeneration. Many physicians also recommend gentle everyday exercise, such as walking 20 to 30 minutes daily.

    Patients with severe pain may be prescribed pool therapy, a gentle and effective form of strengthening.

    Curcumin Supplements

In addition to physical therapy, an oral supplement, such as curcumin, a chemical found naturally in turmeric spice, may be recommended. There is  some evidence that turmeric, and specifically curcumin, may benefit people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION SIDE EFFECTS & RISKS

VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION SIDE EFFECTS

Viscosupplementation is considered a safe procedure, but like any medical procedure it does carry some risks and side effects. Patients should talk to their doctors about these potential risks and complications, which are described below.

Patients who undergo viscosupplementation may have mild discomfort immediately after the procedure. Typical side effects at the injection site include:

  • Localized swelling
  • Skin warmth and redness
  • Soreness
  • Joint stiffness

It is estimated that 1% to 3% of patients experience localized swelling and skin changes. Side effects are usually mild and go away in 1 to 2 days.

VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION RISKS

Aside from side effects, viscosupplementation carries a few risks.

  • Extreme swelling and inflammation. The most common side effects of viscosupplementation are pain, swelling, and inflammation at the site of injection. Occasionally, these symptoms are pronounced enough to require immediate medical care.
  • Infection. While not common, any injection into the knee carries a risk of infection.
  • Allergic reaction. A small number of people have an allergic reaction to the injected material. Patients should let their doctors know if they have allergies to eggs, bird-feathers, or other bird products, as some viscosupplementation injections may spur an allergic reaction.
  • Bursitis. It is possible that a viscosupplementation injection will irritate or inflame a nearby bursa, and potentially cause bursitis symptoms.

These complications are uncommon. If patients experience signs or symptoms of these conditions they should seek medical care.

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