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Diagnosis and progression

Diagnosing osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee

The first thing your doctor will do is talk with you about your symptoms. He or she will ask you where the pain is, how long you've had it, and what types of things make it better or worse. He or she will also probably perform a physical exam of your knee. Following that, there are several tests that can aid your doctor in making a final diagnosis:

X-ray: An x-ray can give your doctor a good view of the bones and cartilage in your joint–if the space between the bones is narrower than usual, it may indicate damage to the cartilage, a sign of OA
MRI: An MRI may be used if an x-ray is not providing a clear indication of the cause of your knee pain
Blood test: A blood test can rule out rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other possible causes of joint pain

Other, less common tests include:

Joint fluid analysis: A needle is used to draw fluid from your joint; the fluid is then checked for signs of infection or other conditions
Arthroscopy: A tiny camera is inserted through small incisions around your knee to look directly at the joint

Progression

OA of the knee is a chronic condition that gradually worsens over time.

Normal knee: Cartilage covers the ends of the bones and keeps them from rubbing together. A small space between the bones contains synovial fluid, which lubricates and protects the joint.

Mild OA: Tiny cracks and pits may begin to form in the cartilage as its surface begins to break down.

Moderate OA: Large sections of cartilage lose their flexibility and start to wear down, making the cartilage even more likely to be damaged by daily wear and tear or injury. Bone spurs may form on the edges of the bones. The synovial fluid also starts to break down, losing its effectiveness.

Severe OA: Sections of cartilage completely wear away, leaving the bones unprotected so that they rub against each other. Tiny bits of cartilage may also float freely in the joint, causing further damage and pain.

The good news: OA of the knee is manageable, especially if detected early, and there are many treatment options. So, if you experience pain, stiffness, or any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor. Only your doctor can diagnose OA of the knee. If it is OA, you and your doctor will work together to find a treatment that is right for you.

Please Note: This information should not be used for self-diagnosis.

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EUFLEXXA (1% sodium hyaluronate) is indicated for the treatment of pain in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative nonpharmacologic therapy and simple analgesics (eg, acetaminophen).

Important Safety Information
EUFLEXXA is contraindicated in patients who have a known hypersensitivity to hyaluronate preparations or who have knee joint infections, infections, or skin disease in the area of the injection site.

EUFLEXXA should not be administered through a needle previously used with medical solutions containing benzalkonium chloride. Do not use skin disinfectants for skin preparation that contain quaternary ammonium salts.

Do not inject intravascularly due to potential for systemic adverse events.

The safety and effectiveness of injection in conjunction with other intra-articular injectables, or into joints other than the knee have not been studied. Remove any joint effusion prior to injecting. Transient pain or swelling of the injected joint may occur after intra-articular injection with EUFLEXXA. The safety and effectiveness of repeated treatment cycles weeks with EUFLEXXA have not been established.

In a randomized, double-blind, multicenter clinical trial (N=160 EUFLEXXA), the only adverse event reported with EUFLEXXA at an incidence greater than 5% was arthralgia (8.7%).

Full Prescribing Information.

Important Information for Patients.

The information on this website is provided for educational purposes only. While there may be information on this web site related to certain medical conditions and their treatment, should a medical condition exist, promptly see your own physician or health provider as the information on this website is not intended to take the place of advice from a physician or healthcare professional. Ferring does not offer personalised medical diagnosis or patient-specific treatment advice. The statements made by doctors on this website represent their own individual experience and opinion and is not intended to be medical advice. Indeed, only your doctor or other health care professional, as a learned intermediary, can determine if a product described in this web site is appropriate for you.

PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR, OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE USING ANY PRODUCT DISCUSSED WITHIN THIS WEB SITE.

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