Now, a real relief from osteoarthritis

At least 1.5 crore people in India suffering from the painful condition of osteoarthritis now have hope in the form of a single injection for relief for a whole year. The biological substance that is injected to lubricate and cushion the diseased knee joint enabling easy movement and increased flexibility is part of a path-breaking therapy that is termed Viscosupplementation.

Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cartilages which act as a cushions between bones in joints begin to wear out. This results in inflammation and pain in joints. A growing number of young people are being diagnosed with this condition.

Claiming to be the world’s first study on developing a relief from the condition, ‘Osteoarthritis Synvisc One Indian Post Marketing Study’ (OASIS) has revealed positive results on the impact of a single-shot Viscosupplementation therapy.

The study was conducted by orthopaedic experts to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the  undisclosed ‘biological substance’ called Synvisc One in 369 osteoarthritis patients in the age group of 30 years and above, across 36 hospitals in 14 different cities in India.

According to Dr Harshad M Shah, head of orthopedics department, MS Ramaiah Medical College, one of the investigators in the study, the findings proved that single-shot Viscosupplementation therapy was especially effective when used in the initial stages of the disease thereby highlighting the need for timely diagnosis and treatment.