Orthopaedics CME
Nearly 20% of the around 300 osteoarthritis patients visiting our OPD every day fall into this category, said Prof Ashish Kumar, head of orthopaedics at KGMU. Because of age, medical conditions or other factors, the group includes patients whose symptoms persist despite conventional treatment and those who need to delay surgery.
Lucknow: Hyaluronic acid, best known for its use in cosmetic treatments, could offer relief to a section of osteoarthritis patients who continue to suffer from persistent joint pain despite standard treatment, experts said at a conference jointly organised by KGMU and UP Orthopaedic Association. KGMU doctors said the treatment could benefit patients who are not immediate candidates for joint replacement surgery but continue to experience pain that affects their daily activities. Prof Shailendra Singh said that while hyaluronic acid is popularly associated with cosmetic procedures, it also has established applications in joint care. Hyaluronic acid injections may be considered for such patients after proper evaluation,” he said. However, the injections are not a cure for osteoarthritis, Prof Mayank Mahendra said. They may be considered when conventional measures fail to provide adequate relief and definitive treatment cannot be undertaken immediately,” he said.
“Some osteoarthritis patients continue to have pain despite medication and other non-surgical treatment options, while joint replacement is either not feasible or not indicated at present. The treatment is aimed at reducing pain and improving movement rather than reversing the disease. “Hyaluronic acid injections do not repair damaged cartilage or halt the progression of osteoarthritis. Doctors added that the decision to use the injections should be based on the severity of the disease, pain levels and the degree of movement restriction in individual patients.