A safe, effective and long-lasting treatment for osteoarthritis of the joints.

For patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA), OrthoVisc® (sodium hyaluronate) is a safe and effective alternative to analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or intra-articular steroids. OrthoVisc is intended to relieve pain, improve joint mobility, and increase range of motion in patients with OA. OrthoVisc has been shown to be effective and is approved for use in all joints.
OrthoVisc is a sterile, clear and colorless, nontoxic, nonallergic, nonpyrogenic, noninflammatory, highly purified, high molecular weight, highly concentrated, high-viscosity, non–cross-linked, biocompatible form of hyaluronan for intra-articular injection. Derived from natural sources, it is similar to healthy synovial fluid. An injectable local treatment for osteoarthritis, OrthoVisc has the highest hyaluronan concentration of any product developed or approved for treatment of osteoarthritis. With high molecular weight and a high concentration of hyaluronan, OrthoVisc provides viscoelasticity and cushioning similar to that of healthy synovial fluid.

Unlike cross-linked products, OrthoVisc has very low protein concentrations and no reported incidence of device-related inflammation or sensitivity-type events. Moreover, unlike lower molecular-weight products which require a series of five injections, the high molecular weight and concentration of OrthoVisc allow its administration as a series of only three weekly injections. A convenient three-injection course of OrthoVisc can provide up to 12 months of pain relief. Equivalent or favorable results have been reported in clinical trials with OrthoVisc compared with physical therapy, placebo, intra-articular corticosteroid treatment and other available hyaluronan devices.

Approved labeling of OrthoVisc varies by country. Please refer to your local distributor or contact Anika Therapeutics.

Administering OrthoVisc® in the Knee
Three injections of 2 mL OrthoVisc, 1 week apart, have been shown to provide symptomatic relief of the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee for up to 12 months.

Step 1: Preparation
Position the knee for lateral administration (use a medial approach for effusion). Stabilize the knee and mark the injection site (1 cm proximal and lateral to the upper outer angle of the patella). Cleanse the area with iodine, drape, and use a topical anesthetic spray such as ethyl chloride.

Step 2: Anesthetize
Administer approximately 5 cc of 1% lidocaine to the subcutaneous tissue. Aspirate frequently to avoid lidocaine injection into a blood vessel. Infiltrate soft tissue. Wait for local anesthetic to take effect.

Step 3: Injection of OrthoVisc
Using a sterile syringe and 18 g needle, penetrate the joint space, aspirate the synovial fluid, and retain for analysis. Leaving the needle in the joint space, connect the syringe with the OrthoVisc 2-mL, prefilled syringe and inject the contents slowly.

Reimbursement
Reimbursement varies widely from country to country. Please consult your local distributor or contact Anika Therapeutics.

For more information, there are numerous websites to include:
www.arthritis.org
Arthritis Foundation

www.curearthritis.org
Arthritis National Research Foundation

www.preventarthritis.org
Arthritis Research Institute of America

www.rheumatology.org
American College of Rheumatology



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