When are hyaluronic acid injections indicated?
Injection of hyaluronic acid may improve the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis includiung pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of motion. These symptoms are caused directly or indirectly by the breakdown and wear of the surface layer of cartilage and the loss of synovial fluid viscosity. Hyaluronic acid injection may be considered for patients with osteoarthritis (ex. ankle arthritis) for whom traditional nonsurgical management has proven ineffective. It may be offered as an alternative to surgery or for those patients who may not be candidates for surgery. The exact indications for viscosupplementation are still evolving. Unlike corticosteroid injections, which produce a non-specific dampening of the inflammatory response, hyaluronic acid injections act specifically on the joint. Viscosupplementaion was first developed as treatment for knee arthritis. However, it has since been applied to both the ankle and shoulder – and could theoretically be applied to any other joint affected
