Arthritis Osteoarthritis Knee Osteoarthritis How Hyalgan Is Used to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice Facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 24, 2022 Medically reviewed by Marissa Sansone, MD Medically reviewed by Marissa Sansone, MD LinkedIn Marissa Sansone, MD, is a board-certified doctor of internal medicine and a current fellow in rheumatology at Yale University. She actively teaches rheumatology to medical residents and students, and peer-reviews abstracts in the journal Rheumatology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Hyalgan is a viscous solution that contains purified natural sodium hyaluronate (Hyalectin) in physiological saline. Hyalgan is one of the hyaluronates used in viscosupplementation, a treatment that involves injecting a gel-like substance (hyaluronate) into a joint to supplement the viscous properties of synovial fluid. The injected viscosupplement helps to cushion the joint and provides lubrication to reduce friction that occurs with movement. With osteoarthritis, synovial fluid loses its lubricating properties and the goal of viscosupplementation is to restore those properties. Todor Tsvetkov /Getty Images Indications Hyalgan was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997 as a treatment option for knee osteoarthritis. It is considered a treatment, not a drug. The sodium hyaluronate in Hyalgan is extracted from rooster combs. Hyalgan is indicated for patients with pain related to knee osteoarthritis who have failed to achieve relief with conservative non-drug treatments and with simple analgesics, such as acetaminophen. Administration Hyalgan is an intra-articular injection typically given once a week, one week apart, for a total of 5 injections. Some patients may achieve a successful outcome after 3 weekly cycles, based on study results of patients who received 3 injections and then were followed for 60 days. Precautions and Warnings There are several precautions and warnings associated with Hyalgan intra-articular injections: The safety and effectiveness of Hyalgan in joints other than the knee has not been studied.If a patient has allergies to avian proteins, feathers, or eggs, the injection should be done with caution.There may be pain or swelling with the injection that will subside. It is advised, as with all intra-articular injections, that patients not participate in a strenuous or weight-bearing activity for 48 hours after the injection.The safety and effectiveness of Hyalgan injections have not been established in pregnant women, nor in lactating women. Its use has not been studied in children. Side Effects and Adverse Events Common side effects associated with Hyalgan injections include gastrointestinal issues, injection site pain, knee swelling or effusion, local skin rash, itching, and headache. Most side effects are injection site reactions which subside after a few days, especially with rest and application of ice. Attention must be paid to symptoms that persist and may be indicative of something more severe, such as infection or systemic allergic reactions. Such severe adverse events are considered rare. 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Fidia Pharma USA. Hyalgan (sodium hyaluronate): product information. Additional Reading Fidia Pharma USA. Hyalgan (sodium hyaluronate) [product label]. By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit