Hyaluronic Acid for Osteoarthritis
Artificially produced hyaluronic acid is particularly used for joints affected by osteoarthritis and cartilage damage.
Hyaluronic acid
What is Hyaluronic Acid for?
The articular cartilage is largely made up of hyaluronic acid. If the cartilage in arthrotically altered joints is worn and damaged, synthesized hyaluronic acid can be injected into the joint space.
This helps to ensure that the joint is supple again and that joint movements are not hindered by friction. This is because, in a healthy joint, hyaluronic acid is permanently produced by fibroblasts (special connective tissue cells) located in the joint and in the articular cartilage.
Artificially produced hyaluronic acid injected into the knee from the outside increases the proportion of hyaluronic acid in the knee.
Diseased joints with degenerated cartilage (osteoarthritis) produce very little hyaluronic acid themselves. Therefore, repeated injections are used to slow down the rapid breakdown of hyaluronic acid in the joint.
Hyaluronic Acid Knee – how Often is Treatment Performed?
Generally, between 1 and 5 hyaluronic acid injections are administered.
The half-life of hyaluronic acid, i.e. the time it takes for half of the substance to be used up, is approximately 60 hours. It is assumed that the half-life increases the more frequently the injections are repeated.
However, the effectiveness after the injection is significantly higher, so that an improvement in pain and mobility in the affected joint is seen from months to years.
How is it Injected?
Each treatment must be preceded by a detailed explanation to the patient. As with any procedure, there are risks and side effects.
The injection is performed under local anesthesia and therefore causes hardly any pain.
Sometimes a cortisone preparation is also injected to reduce inflammation so that the inflammation present in the joint can be minimized.
OA. Dr. Schurz uses the following products:
- Synocrom – 5 applications (€100 per application)
HyalOne
– 2 applications (€250 per application)
