WHAT ARE VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION INJECTIONS (AKA LUBRICANT OR ROOSTER COMB)?
If you are tired of living with knee pain caused by arthritis or joint inflammation and you’ve been told joint replacement or surgery is your only solution, there are actually several nonsurgical options to consider. At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, one of the many options we offer is viscosupplementation, also called "rooster comb" injections.
WHAT IS THE SUCCESS RATE?
Viscosupplementation (Rooster Comb) are, on the whole, about 50-60% effective for reducing knee pain based on current studies.
We do offer other orthobiologic treatments with higher success rates, such as PRP and MFAT cell injections. These treatments have a success rate closer to 80-90% based on current studies.
TYPES OF VISCO INJECTIONS
There are several different brands of viscosupplements, including Euflexxa, Synvisc, Hyalgan, Supartz, Gelsyn, Triluron, and Orthovisc. Each of these products has subtle differences in terms of HA concentration, viscosity, and number of injections required. These injections can be used in almost any joint and are particularly effective for use in the knee, hip, ankle and shoulder. Proper placement of HA into the joint is essential in order to obtain beneficial effects. Therefore, we ALWAYS use ultrasound guidance to verify the needle placement.
WHAT IS THE VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION PROCESS?
These injections are a non-invasive treatment for knee and joint pain in which a natural lubricant is injected into the knee to reduce friction and inflammation – a major cause of pain, swelling, and loss of motion. Made from hyaluronic acid, the main component in synovial fluid, the naturally-occurring lubricating fluid in the knee, these injections are natural, safe, and have few to no side effects.
HOW MANY VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?
They are given in series of three to five injections, one week apart.
IS VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION FOR KNEE PAIN COVERED BY INSURANCE?
Almost ALL insurance carriers (including Medicare) will cover MOST of the cost of the injections, although you may have to pay your “percentage” based on whatever type of healthcare plan you carry. We do not estimate this number for patients, so you will need to call your insurance to verify your own benefits.
We do stock the most common brands, which will make the process smoother, however if you have an insurance that denies these injections, or if we do not carry the brand your insurance requires, we do offer a cash price for this treatment.
READ MORE ABOUT VISCO INJECTIONS
At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, we are committed to offering a wide-range of nonsurgical treatment options to help you find relief from knee pain, and get back to the activities you enjoy. If you're suffering from knee pain, please schedule a consultation with our highly experienced and board certified nonsurgical orthopedic providers to see if viscosupplementation injections via ultrasound guidance (for improved accuracy) might be a good option for you.
WHY CAROLINA
NONSURGICAL ORTHOPEDICS
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All Providers are BOARD CERTIFIED and Specially Trained in Nonsurgical Orthopedics
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Over 50,000+ and Counting Procedures Performed
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Procedures Performed with Ultrasound Guidance for Accuracy and Safety
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Local and Independent Practice That is NOT a Franchise
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Discounts for Service Members, Teachers, and Public Servants
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Serving Raleigh Since 2013