What is Viscosupplementation for Shoulder Arthritis?
Viscosupplementation is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the injection of a hyaluronic acid preparation into the shoulder to treat arthritis. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance which is present in the joint fluid that acts as a shock absorber and enhances lubrication.
Indications for Viscosupplementation for Shoulder Arthritis
Viscosupplementation is mainly indicated to treat pain and swelling in the shoulder joint caused due to arthritis that is not relieved by other conservative measures such as over-the-counter pain medications or corticosteroid injections.
Anatomy of Shoulder
The shoulder is a very flexible ball and socket joint that consists of 3 bones, the collarbone (clavicle), the upper arm bone (humerus), and the shoulder blade (scapula). An irregular shallow cavity called the glenoid cavity present in the scapula forms the socket for the head of the humerus to fit in. The scapula is a flat triangular-shaped bone that serves as a site of attachment for the shoulder muscles providing stability to the joint. The clavicle bone connects the scapula to the breastbone.
Preparation for Viscosupplementation for Shoulder Arthritis
Preparation for viscosupplementation for shoulder arthritis includes:
- Inform your doctor if you are allergic to any medications.
- Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions such as hypertension or diabetes and if you are taking any regular medications.
- Wear loose clothing while coming for the procedure.
Procedure of Viscosupplementation for Shoulder Arthritis
Procedure of viscosupplementation for shoulder arthritis includes:
- Your doctor will first clean the site of the injection with an antiseptic.
- Local anesthesia will be injected near the shoulder joint.
- Imaging guidance may be used by your doctor to inject the targeted site.
- Any excess fluid will be aspirated from the joint if necessary.
- Your doctor will inject the hyaluronic acid preparation into the shoulder joint.
- A bandage will then be placed on the injection site.
The whole procedure usually takes only a few minutes.
Post-operative Instructions for Viscosupplementation for Shoulder Arthritis
Post-procedure instructions for viscosupplementation for shoulder arthritis include:
- •Your doctor will advise you to apply ice to reduce pain and swelling.
- •Avoid exerting pressure and performing strenuous activities with the shoulder for a few weeks.
Risks and Complications of Viscosupplementation for Shoulder Arthritis
Risks and complications of viscosupplementation for shoulder arthritis include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Redness
- Allergy
Related Topics:
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Surgery
- SLAP Repair
- Same Day Shoulder Surgery
- Malunion Surgery of the Shoulder
- Shoulder Reconstruction Surgery
- Sternoclavicular Joint Reconstruction
- Complex Shoulder Reconstruction
- Shoulder Labrum Reconstruction
- Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction (SCR)
- Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Reconstruction
- Posterior Shoulder Stabilization
- SC Joint Injury Reconstruction
- Proximal Humerus Resection & Reconstruction
- Bony Instability Reconstruction of the Shoulder
- Shoulder Stabilization
- Open Shoulder Stabilization
- AC Joint Stabilization
- Anterior Shoulder Stabilization
- Capsular Release
- Shoulder Resurfacing
- Biologic Shoulder Resurfacing
- ORIF of the Scapula Fractures
- Arthroscopic Bankart Repair
- Arthroscopic Frozen Shoulder Release
- Latarjet Procedure
- Distal Clavicle Excision
- Pectoralis Major Tears/Repairs
- Shoulder Preservation Surgery
- Revision Open Labral Repair (Revision Bankart)
- AC Joint Repair
- ORIF of the Clavicle Fractures
- Periprosthetic Shoulder Fracture Fixation
- Revision Rotator Cuff Surgery
- Non-union Fixation of a Shoulder Fracture
- Complex Fracture Repair of the Shoulder
- Triceps Repair
- Non-surgical Shoulder Treatments
- Viscosupplementation for Shoulder Arthritis
- Ultrasound-Guided Shoulder Injections
- Intraarticular Shoulder Injection
- Shoulder Fracture Care
- Exercises for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
- Am I a Candidate for Shoulder Surgery?
- Am I a Candidate for Shoulder Replacement?