Sodium hyaluronate--application in a community practice

This office tracked the clinical results of 73 patients who received sodium hyaluronate for their knees, as well as two ankle patients and one elbow patient. A questionnaire designed to evaluate six areas of function-relief of pain, stiffness, walking tolerance, pain while negotiating stairs, swelling, night symptoms--was mailed to patients who had received the series of five sodium hyaluronate injections. Ninety-five percent of the questionnaires were completed and returned. We found that injectible sodium hyaluronate is a viable treatment option for properly selected patients, namely those with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee. We found that it relieved pain and stiffness in most patients. The majority of patients were willing to repeat the treatment if necessary. Sodium hyaluronate allows the physician to relieve patient pain in early stages of the disease and to manage the patient comfortably until surgery is a viable option. With the appropriate precertification and billing protocol, reimbursement should not be an obstacle in using this product.