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Osteoarthritis of
the Knee
Treatment Options
Osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease is
the most common form of arthritis that affects up to
2.7 million Canadians. It is characterized by a breakdown
of the joint’s cartilage, which leads to pain,
and lack of movement. The pain is caused from the mechanical
friction caused by bone-to-bone contact. The disease
most commonly affects middle aged to older people. It
ranges from mild to severe and affects hands and weight-bearing
joints such as knees, hips and the back. There are two
forms of this disease. The primary form appears spontaneously
without cause but is usually associated with aging.
The secondary form is a result of trauma such as fractures
or injuries to ligaments or trauma to the meniscus but
can also occur as a result of another form of arthritis.
It is thought to affect 20% of the population from ages
45 – 55 and up to 50% of people over the age 65+.
It is will affect virtually everyone over the age of
75. There are many factors that can cause OA. While
age is a factor it is not totally predictive. Obesity
may lead to OA simply from the strain that it places
on weight-bearing joints. Sports, trauma and work-related
activities all can lead to an increased incidence.
Orthovisc®® (sodium
hyaluronate) is a sterile, clear and colourless, nontoxic, nonallergic, nonpyrogenic,
noninflamammatory, highly purified, high molecular-weight,
highly concentrated, high viscosity, non-cross-linked, biocompatible form of hyaluronan
for intra-articular injection. Orthovisc®® reduces joint pain and improves joint mobility, safely and effectively
providing significant relief from the pain of osteoarthritis
(OA) of the knee. Orthovisc®®
supplements the synovial fluid to naturally augment
lubrication, cushioning and offer superior protection
to the arthritic knee joint.
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