SPECIALIST PROCEDURES - HYALURONIC ACID / OSTENIL
What happens in osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis develops as people get older and is present in almost everyone over the age of 60 ( although not everyone in this age group has bad symptoms). Osteoarthritis of the knee or hip may occur in younger people, usually ( but not allways) because these joints have been overloaded. Possible causes of overloading include sports, jobs involving a lot of lifting and carrying, too much bodyweight and abnormal joint development.
Osteoarthritis occurs in the joints of the body that are classified as "synovial". A synovial joint is one in which the ends of the bones are enclosed in a capsule containing a thick, slippery liquid called synovial fluid.
This fluid has four important functions:
- It keeps the bones slightly apart, protecting their cartilage coverings from wear and tear.
- It acts as a shock absorber, again protecting the cartilage.
- It lubricates the joint.
- It acts as a filter, letting nutrients reach the cartilage but blocking the passage of harmful cells and substances.
The most important component of synovial fluid is a substance called hyaluronic acid. It is this that allows the synovial fluid to perform all its functions at the same time.
The hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid does not stay there for a whole lifetime, but is continuously broken down and replaced. Normally, there is an exact balance between the breakdown of old hyaluronic acid and the production of new hyaluronic acid. In osteoarthritis, however, this balance is disturbed and breakdown happens faster than production. As a result, the synovial fluid becomes more watery and stops working properly.
Due to the change in the synovial fluid- and for other, more complex reasons- the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. In some places, in fact, the cartilage may eventually disappear altogether. The thinning of the the synovial fluid and wearing away of the cartilage lead to the symptoms of osteoarthritis, which includes pain, stiffness and swelling.
What is OSTENIL, and how does it work?
Ostenil is a solution containing hyaluronic acid. It is injected into the space in the joint that contains synovial fluid and works by restoring the normal balance between the breakdown and production of hyaluronic acid. This effect of Ostenil means that it can decrease pain and stiffness and improve the other symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The hyaluronic acid in Ostenil is very pure and is manufactured using a process called fermentation. It contains no animal proteins, which means it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Ostenil has been given to thousands of patients and has not been found to cause any serious side effects. The exact make-up of hyaluronic acid in Ostenil has been carefully chosen so that it is as effective as possible in treating osteoarthritis.
Please speak to one of the Oving clinic doctors to discuss wether your symptoms may be helped with Ostenil.
If you have further questions about this procedure please contact us.
