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a doctor injects Orthovisc into the knee joint and explains Common Side Effects

Orthovisc Injections Common Side Effects

Orthopedics / By  Medical Community

17 Nov

Orthovisc Injections are viscosupplements injected into the knee to alleviate pain, joint inflammation and discomfort caused by osteoarthritis. Viscosupplements are hyaluronic acid-based viscoelastic gels that are administered via injection to knees that are affected by osteoarthritis. Orthovisc viscosupplement contains hyaluronan, which mimics the naturally occurring substance in our joints that facilitates movement and rotation to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Orthovisc injections are offered to patients when traditional treatments for osteoarthritis such as physical therapy, acetaminophen, and exercise does not alleviate the patient’s conditions.

Knowing the side effects associated with Orthovisc injections sets proper expectations for its uses.

What is Orthovisc?

Orthovisc is one of the most trusted viscosupplement brands that has been used by thousands of patients for over 20 years.

Orthovisc is an ultra-pure, high molecular hyaluronic acid based viscosupplement that provides up to 6 months of efficacy combatting osteoarthritis with 3 to 4 injections. Its effectivity is attributed to the product’s high concentration of Hyaluronic Acid in the formulation: 15 mg/mL — one of the highest in any injectable treatment.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive, degenerative disease in the knee joints that is caused by the breakdown of the knee joint cartilage. Over time, the cartilage in our joints gives way to its mobility/ rotation and wears out due to repetitive movements and even stress. The subsequent thinning and rubbing of raw muscles against one another cause stiffness, pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Osteoarthritis being a progressive degenerative medical condition has no cure and the symptoms worsen over time. Treatment and medication are targeted towards pain and discomfort management and reinforcing joint mobility.

The active ingredient in an Orthovisc injection is hyaluronic acid, which is the naturally occurring substance in our cartilage that lubricates our joints for mobility, rotation, and their range of motions. Orthovisc is injected into the synovial space in the knee joints to reinforce the depleting hyaluronic acid. This lubricates and lessens the painful and forceful contact amongst muscles and bones.

Orthovisc Side Effects

The following are common Orthovisc injection side effects, which should not be any cause for panic. These injection side effects should go away on its own after a few days. Should symptoms persist, a physician should be contacted immediately:

• Redness / pain / swelling / warmth / bruising at the injection site

• Inflammation of the knee joint

• Itching

• Reaction at the injection site

• Decreased appetite

• Headache

• Nausea

• Stomach irritation

• Stomach cramps

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

Should the following Orthovisc side effects be experienced, it is best to contact a physician immediately:

• Skin rash

• Hives

• Fever because of the medication

• Allergic reaction called anaphylaxis

• Swelling in the face / tongue / throat

• Severe dizziness

• Trouble breathing

Orthovisc Cost

An Orthovisc Injection costs anywhere from $500 to $800. These Orthovisc injection prices can be covered using various health plans. It is best to consult with a healthcare professional for any financing plans regarding the medications.

Conclusion

Osteoarthritis is an extremely serious medical condition that involves lifelong management. As a viscosupplement, Orthovisc is dedicated to alleviating the pain and inflammation that patients go through daily.

By taking careful note of its possible side effects, Orthovisc may be administered safely by a doctor to provide sustainable comfort and pain alleviation to the patients who need it the most.

Two women facing each other symbolizes the Orthovisc and Synvisc comparison

Orthovisc vs Synvisc: Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

Knee Treatments, Orthopedics, Orthovisc, Synvisc / By  Medical Community

14 Jun

Viscosupplements

Viscosupplement medication involves supplementing the diminished amount of hyaluronic acid in the diseased joint’s degraded synovial fluid with a hyaluronic acid product that possesses the rheological properties of healthy synovial fluid.

These medications are normally offered as second-line therapies, which are treatments that are used after the patient has not adequately responded to primary treatments such as pain medication and physical therapy. Viscosupplement preparations differ significantly in their molecular weight, concentration, rheological properties, manufacturing processes, and residence times in the joint.

The effects that viscosupplements confer are delayed but long-lasting. While it can sometimes take weeks or even several months for the full results of viscosupplements like Orthovisc injectables and Synvisc to materialize, these medications can provide up to six months of improvement, including reduced pain and a greater range of motion.

As a pharmaceutical class, viscosupplements have been widely studied and consistently shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. They are widely used and accepted by many doctors and medical practitioners.

Knee Osteoarthritis and Hyaluronic Acid

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a painful degenerative condition of the knee joint in which the gradual breakdown of the protective cartilage around the ends of the bones leads to damage and the gradual destruction of the joint, causing symptoms of inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

Patients with this disease suffer from limited mobility that often interferes with daily activities. Typical strategies to cope with this progressive, degenerative disease include the use of analgesics, physical therapy, and weight loss management, or a combination of the above.

A critical component in the development of osteoarthritis is synovial fluid, the thick, viscous liquid found in synovial joints like the knees that is responsible for the lubrication and cushioning of the bones. Synovial fluid is primarily made up of hyaluronic acid, which provides synovial fluid with its highly viscoelastic properties.

In people with knee osteoarthritis, the quantity and size of the hyaluronic acid molecules in the synovial fluid is reduced, resulting in rheological changes to the fluid itself. The fluid becomes thinner and more watery, reducing its ability to lubricate and cushion the joint.

Orthovisc vs. Synvisc

• Composition: Synvisc is made of a complex of reticulated hylan, hylan A and hylan B. Hylan A is a soluble, high-molecular-weight molecule that comprises 80% of the complex, while hylan B is an insoluble gel-like continuous molecular network that makes up the remaining 20% of the complex. Orthovisc, on the other hand, comprises cross-linked, high-molecular-weight hyaluronan.

• Viscoelastic properties: Synvisc injection has viscoelastic properties that are more similar to those of the synovial fluid of young and healthy adults. This positively impacts the efficacy of the product’s lubrication and shock-absorption.

• Clinical outcomes: Researchers examined the differences in clinical and cost outcomes among different viscosupplements and found that Synvisc has a reduced effect in respect to delaying knee replacement surgery when compared to other products, including Orthovisc.

• Hyaluronan sources: While Synvisc is made from rooster and chicken combs, the hyaluronic acid used in Orthovisc is derived from bacterial cells. A study by Petrella et al. found evidence suggesting that products with non-avian-derived hyaluronic acid have a lower risk of causing side effects when compared to products with hyaluronic acid derived from avian sources.

• Adverse event profile: Synvisc is associated with greater incidences of acute local reactions, an occurrence that is not seen with treatment using other viscosupplements, including Orthovisc. These reactions seem to increase in frequency with repeated treatments. The incidence of acute local reactions with Synvisc treatment may be attributed to the product’s manufacturing process, which involves using chemical divinyl sulfone and formaldehyde to crosslink the native hyaluronan. These chemicals may provoke an immunological tissue reaction, leading to pseudosepsis.

Orthovisc and Synvisc as viscosupplements

 

Conclusion

Hyaluronic acid viscosupplement injections are a safe and efficacious way to help patients treat and manage their knee osteoarthritis symptoms in the long term. While Synvisc and Orthovisc have great results, there are considerable differences regarding their respective adverse event profiles, product composition, and clinical outcomes.

Patients should always consult a knowledgeable medical practitioner when deciding which of these products is the right one for them.

Chess pieces black and white horse symbolizes the difference between Monovisc and Synvisc

Monovisc vs Synvisc: Properties & Treatment Course

Knee Treatments, Orthopedics, Synvisc / By  Medical Community

05 Oct

Intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid-based Monovisc, a product manufactured by Anika Therapeutics, and Synvisc, made by Genzyme, are used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.Patients considering such viscosupplements may need more information before deciding on the right product for them. Read on to learn more about the benefits of viscosupplementation and the characteristics of Monovisc and Synvisc.

Monovisc vs Synvisc for viscosupplementation

Patients with knee osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis in which the knee suffers damage due to the wearing down of its protective cartilage, often find themselves suffering from pain or joint stiffness that limits their mobility and impedes their daily activities. Managing this condition by alleviating the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis is necessary to improve patients’ quality of life.

Currently, the methods of managing knee osteoarthritis include pain medications such as acetaminophen, physical therapy, and weight loss management (if obesity is a factor). Additionally, second-line medications like intraarticular corticosteroids and intraarticular hyaluronic acid can be employed if the initial approach does not produce an adequate clinical response.

Intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections are a form of viscosupplementation therapy. Viscosupplements are used to lubricate and cushion the affected joint in order to prevent further progression and reduce symptoms of the disease. They are similar in composition and physical characteristics to human synovial fluid, a component found in the knee joint that plays a vital role in its lubrication.

How do the orthopedic injections Monovisc and Synvisc differ?

Composition

Synvisc is unique among all hyaluronic acid viscosupplements. The main ingredient in Synvisc is a cross-linked derivative of hyaluronic acid that contains two polymers, hylan A (a soluble, high-molecular weight molecule that makes up 80% of the compound) and hylan B (an insoluble gel-like continuous molecular network that makes up the remaining 20% of the compound). In contrast, Monovisc contains cross-linked hyaluronan of high molecular weight.

Hyaluronic acid sources

The hyaluronic acid in Monovisc is derived from bacterial fermentation, whereas the hylan in Synvisc is produced from rooster combs. Thus, patients with hypersensitivity to avian proteins, feathers and/or egg products may consider Monovisc to be the more suitable treatment for them.

Viscoelastic properties

It is thought that Synvisc better imitates the rheological properties of healthy synovial fluid, which could impact its effectiveness in providing adequate lubrication to the joint.

Adverse events

Synvisc is associated with acute local reactions in the knee. These reactions have been shown to increase in frequency in patients receiving more than one course of treatment. Similar reactions have not been reported with other viscosupplements, including Monovisc.

Treatment course

Monovisc is a single dose treatment course, while Synvisc requires 3 weekly injections. The former may be more convenient for patients who wish to avoid the hassle of multiple visits to the doctor.

Conclusion

Intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid are a safe and convenient method of alleviating the symptoms associated with knee osteoarthritis. However, not all viscosupplements are the same, and patients should discuss their options with their physician.