Knee Arthritis Treatment with Hyaluronic Acid

Knee arthritis is a disease that inflames the tissues of the joint causing pain and limited movement. By using hyaluronic acid in the knee, beneficial effects can be obtained that will temporarily alleviate these issues.

1. What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid (synthetic glycosaminoglycan) is one of the main components of synovial fluid. It acts as a lubricant and filler in the joints. Its properties benefit knee arthritis, elbow, hip, ligaments, and menisci. It prevents overload from body weight. It allows movements without friction. You can see an overview of what hyaluronic acid is here.

2. In which cases is its use indicated?

It is used through infiltration or intra-articular injection to treat arthritis and osteoarthritis mild to moderate in both the knee and other joints with symptoms of disease.

The use of hyaluronic acid is approved by the EU as a treatment associated with arthritis and osteoarthritis pain and its treatment is compatible with shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand fingers, ankles, and toe diseases. It is also indicated to alleviate problems caused by arthritis in temporomandibular joints (which move the jaw) and facet joints of the spine (parts of the vertebrae that allow spinal movement).

Other recommended applications in the form of injection are in arthroscopies or endoscopies, an application that significantly improves postoperative recovery due to its properties to protect the joints.

3. Why does hyaluronic acid work in knee arthritis?

As indicated in point 1, and seen in the image types of arthritis, the product acts as a lubricant and filler of the synovial fluid in the joint.

 

Hyaluronic acid injections into the knee normalize the mix of synovial fluid that covers the affected joint. Injecting the product inside helps reduce pain and inflammation while protecting the area, allowing the patient with arthritis to move without pain and friction.

The use of this substance in the knee eliminates the symptoms of the disease for long periods. It is also recommended for other affected joints such as elbow, ankle, wrist, hand fingers, feet, hip, etc.

4. What it consists of and how long its beneficial effects last.

With a fine syringe, hyaluronic acid is injected into the joint, which will allow for rapid improvement of arthritis symptoms. Within 24 hours, the patient begins to notice differences.

For large joints, 3 ml of hyaluronic acid is recommended and for small joints, 1 – 2 ml. Injecting these amounts at once allows the patient to enjoy beneficial effects for 6 to 8 months. That is, during this period, knee pain will be eliminated or at least significantly reduced.

In case of experiencing arthritis symptoms in other joints such as the elbow, hip, or others, the treatment, effects, and time frames are similar.

5. How the treatment is performed

The doctor will always disinfect the area and follow the strict aseptic conditions set by the EU. This procedure will avoid infections and contraindications from contamination by external agents.

Watch the video to get an idea of the treatment.

6. Do not apply the treatment with injections in cases:

• The joint has evident inflammation.
• It is infected or shows signs of poor health.
• There are wounds on the skin over the area to be treated.

7. Method of applying hyaluronic acid injection

The injection should be applied inside the joint. Under no circumstances should it be intravascular or extra-articular, nor should it be injected into tissues or the synovial membrane.

In hip arthritis or in intervertebral joints of the spine, due to their specific characteristics and the increased difficulty of performing the infiltration or applying the hyaluronic acid injection, the patient will usually need to undergo surgery to allow for proper monitoring and intervention with ultrasound, arthroscopy, or endoscopy as necessary.

8. Side effects

The infiltration of hyaluronic acid may cause mild side effects in the treated areas, most of which will disappear within 24 to 72 hours.

Some of these unwanted effects include skin redness, hardness, bruising, itching, or localized pruritus. However, it is more common not to experience these symptoms and instead feel knee distension or a so-called stretched muscle sensation. In any case, these symptoms should not last more than 2 or 3 days.

In most cases of side effects, clinical studies show that pain, swelling, and stiffness are transient and can be adequately treated with analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

9. Contraindications and risks of the treatment

• In patients with venous or lymphatic stasis, such as varicose veins, this treatment should be administered with caution.
• The treatment is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Those allergic to any of the components that may be mixed with hyaluronic acid. For individuals suffering from chondrocalcinosis, it should be applied with caution as it may trigger an acute episode of the disease.
• In the case of joint effusion, it must be drained before infiltration due to the pre-existing excessive fluid accumulation in the joint.

10. Who can administer the treatment to a patient

Although it may seem like a simple technique, the treatment with infiltrations should only be administered by a specialist physician familiar with the product and with intra-articular injection techniques and synovial fluid.

Infiltration is a technique that requires experience and skill to inject the product into the designated area. Keep in mind that the success of this intervention depends on correct application, which can only be performed by a professional with the appropriate facilities and equipment.

11. What you should do after a hyaluronic acid infiltration

The post-infiltration care is quite simple. You should rest for 24 to 48 hours to allow the treated knee or joint to properly absorb the injected fluid, which will help reduce pain intensity and restore natural mobility.