• Bones: Start to grow bony spurs called osteophytes that restrict movement and cause pain.
• Joint capsule: The tissue can become thick and swollen, and sometimes inflamed.
• Cartilage: As osteoarthritis progressively degrades this tissue, X-ray images reveal that the gap between joint bones, normally separated by cartilage tissue, becomes smaller, and pain-free movement becomes more difficult without this shock absorber.
• Joint fluid: The hyaluronic acid content of joint synovial fluid becomes degraded and less able to perform its protective functions.

A study published in 2015 has shown that treatment with hyaluronic acid injections can postpone knee replacement surgery.¹⁷ In this survey, the more courses of hyaluronic acid treatment the patients had received, the longer the time between their initial diagnosis of osteoarthritis and their joint replacement operation. Patients without hyaluronic acid treatment had their knee replacement surgery after an average of nine months. Patients who received five or more courses of hyaluronic acid treatment delayed their knee replacement operation by an average of 3.6 years.

DUROLANE offers knee pain relief up to 12 months, and improves physical activity and quality of life of knee osteoarthritis patients in as early as 2 weeks after the injection.^{12-15, 20}

If you are a patient with knee osteoarthritis who is not getting enough pain relief from oral medications, physical therapy or steroids, DUROLANE might be right for you.¹⁸ Speak with your doctor about hyaluronic acid treatment with DUROLANE.

You should not use DUROLANE if you have infections or skin disease at the injection site. DUROLANE has not been tested in pregnant or lactating women, or children.¹⁸ Full information about the indications and contraindications for DUROLANE can be found in the package insert, at the website DUROLANE.com, or by contacting Customer Service on 1800 428 220.

A steroid injection is used to reduce inflammation and pain. It has a faster onset of action than an injection of hyaluronic acid, but has a shorter duration of effect.¹²

A clinical study was performed to compare a steroid injection with DUROLANE treatment¹² in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Both treatments provided a reduction in joint pain and stiffness. The benefits of the steroid injection declined after four months, while the benefits of the DUROLANE injection were maintained for six months. The study also showed that DUROLANE treatment can be repeated at six months, without showing a decline in effect. Patients who initially received a steroid injection also responded well to follow-up treatment at six months with an injection of DUROLANE.

Osteoarthritis is often referred to as a degenerative joint disease, which usually develops slowly over time. It is a very common disease, typically associated with joint pain. For example, 6% of adults 30 years old or older have frequent knee pain.^1,2

With osteoarthritis, cartilage in the joint begins to break down and the amount of hyaluronic acid within the synovial fluid in the joint decreases, causing the fluid to become thinner and less functional.^3,4 The break down of cartilage and the loss of hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid contributes to pain, inflammation, swelling, and problems with moving your joint.^3-5

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common afflictions of the knee,³ but it’s a condition you can take charge of, work through, and overcome its symptoms.

DUROLANE offers pain relief up to 12 months.^12-15

DUROLANE is hyaluronic acid, which acts as a lubricant and shock absorber in the synovial fluid. The hyaluronic acid in a DUROLANE injection may enhance the protective ability of hyaluronic acid in your knee joint, and provide relief of your knee pain.¹⁸

DUROLANE was the first single-injection treatment containing hyaluronic acid introduced in the European Union in 2001. DUROLANE was designed to relieve painful knee osteoarthritis, as described in the summary of Indications for Use in the package insert.*¹⁸

DUROLANE is a single-injection treatment designed to provide powerful and long-lasting knee pain relief when you are suffering from knee pain due to osteoarthritis.^12-15 It is a form of hyaluronic acid produced from a non-avian source to eliminate possible allergic reactions, unlike some other hyaluronic acid based products. DUROLANE was designed to have a long residence time in the joint.¹⁹ It consists of long chains of hyaluronic acid molecules which are linked to form a three-dimensional gel.¹⁹ It is injected into the affected joint to compensate for the loss of hyaluronic acid that occurs with osteoarthritis, to act as a lubricant and shock-absorber.

The hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid in your joint is continuously broken down and replaced over time. During the gradual progression of osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid brakes down faster and becomes diluted. This has a negative effect on the protective properties of the joint synovial fluid, reducing its ability to provide the elasticity and viscosity to your joint cartilage that is needed for normal, pain-free joint movement.

Hyaluronic acid is a molecule found naturally throughout the human body. It is an important component of the joint fluid, called synovial fluid. The synovial fluid allows joints to move easily and freely while also absorbing the shock in the joint that occurs during activity. In a healthy joint, the joint fluid helps to protect bones and other joint tissues from injury and disease.

Yes. The safety of the repeated use of DUROLANE is supported by one open label study (a second injection at 3 months), and an extension phase to the non-inferiority trial versus steroid (a second injection at 26 weeks). There were no increases in the rates of adverse events following the repeated injections. The adverse event rates of the three groups can be found in the summary of Indications for Use in the package insert.*

Many practitioners will administer a local skin anesthetic prior to giving the DUROLANE injection, to minimize any discomfort.

The entire procedure is performed in the doctor’s office and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. DUROLANE is administered by a single injection into the affected joint.¹⁸

Yes. However, you will need one injection in each individual knee.

If you suffer with knee osteoarthritis pain and the pain is not controlled by lifestyle modifications or simple pain medications, then you could be a suitable candidate for DUROLANE treatment. To find out if DUROLANE is right for you, please consult your doctor.

DUROLANE’s unique stabilizing technology is designed so the hyaluronic acid content resists breakdown, for a long-lasting effect.^{7, 21-23} Furthermore, there are higher levels of concentrated hyaluronic acid in DUROLANE,¹⁶ which extends the time DUROLANE stays in the joint. This is in contrast to the hyaluronic acid in other hyaluronic acid products, which dissipate within a few days after the injection. These are the main reasons why you will require only a single injection of DUROLANE, whereas a course of therapy with other hyaluronic acid products need several injections.

^{*Over one million DUROLANE injections have been administered since it was first introduced, with a low incidence of adverse events.}