Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation is a procedure in which a thick, gel-like substance is injected into a joint (intra-articular), most commonly to treat arthritis pain. These substances, known as hyaluronates (hyaluronic acid and hylan), improve the lubricating properties of the natural fluid in the joint (synovial fluid), reduce joint pain, improve mobility, and provide a higher and more comfortable level of activity. It is essentially like “an oil change for your joints.” This is sometimes referred to as the “rooster injection” or the “chicken injection”, as some products are derived from a rooster’s comb. We can perform viscosupplementation of any of the commercially available products out there, but Dr. Clearfield has most commonly used Euflexxa and Synvisc-1.

Other viscosupplementation products available are: