title: Update on viscosupplementation in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle.
abstract: In the recent past, nonsurgical treatment of osteoarthritis was limited to rest, immobilization, physical therapy, activity modifications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, weight loss, assistive devices for walking, and corticosteroid injections. Viscosupplementation is a welcome addition to the nonsurgical armamentarium available to physicians. It is used to introduce hyaluronic acid into the joint to provide initial lubrication and shock absorption, and to change the long-term disease process. This article discusses the pathology of osteoarthritis; the characteristics, physiology, and administration of commercial viscosupplements; and reviews the research on hyaluronic acid use in the foot and ankle. It concludes that additional studies are required to test the safety and efficacy of this treatment in other parts of the foot.
authors.affiliation: Northern California Foot and Ankle Center. kirk.grogan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kirk A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Grogan
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Salk
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D033023:Foot Joints; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055676:Viscosupplementation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid