Hyalgan, Supartz, Euflexxa, and Synvisc are brand names for hyaluronic acid, a gel-like fluid injected into the knee to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis. The general term for this treatment is viscosupplementation, because injecting hyaluronic acid into the joint supplements or adds to the natural lubrication (synovial fluid) to allow the bones to interact smoothly and to serve as a shock-absorber during physical activities.
Procedure Details and Expectations
A knee injection usually takes less than 5 minutes and is an in-office procedure. Depending on the brand of injection, you’ll receive one shot or up to five spaced out over several weeks. You’ll receive a local anesthetic and undergo painless ultrasound to precisely pinpoint the site of the knee injection. If your knee is swollen, we may remove some fluid from the joint before proceeding with the injection. After the knee injection is complete, you’ll bend and straighten your knee several times to ensure that the injected fluid is distributed throughout the joint.
