What Is Hyalgan?

Definition: Hyalgan is a solution of sodium hyaluronate. Hyaluronate is a natural chemical found in the body.

Hyalgan is one of the hyaluronates used in viscosupplementation.

Hyalgan is injected directly into the knee joint to restore the cushioning and lubricating properties of normal joint fluid.

Hyalgan is used to relieve knee pain due to osteoarthritis, for those who failed to respond to simple painkillers, exercise or physical therapy.

Use for other joints is being investigated.

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Fast Facts About Hyalgan Injections:

• Viscosupplementation has been studied for osteoarthritis treatment since the 1970s.
• Hyalgan was FDA approved on 05/28/97.


• Hyalgan injections are typically given once a week, one week apart, for a total of five injections. Some may benefit with only three.


• Hyalgan was the first FDA approved hyaluronan therapy.


• Hyalgan is considered a treatment or therapy, not a drug.

Related Resources

Hyalgan Injections

Viscosupplementation

Knee Pain

Related Resources - Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis

Guide To Osteoarthritis

Test Your Knowledge: Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis Screening Quiz

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Also Known As: viscosupplementation, joint fluid therapy, hyaluronan injections, hyaluronate injections, joint fluid prosthesis, intra-articular knee injections

Common Misspellings: hyalgen, hyalgin, hyalgon, hyalgun, hialgan, hyalgann

Examples: The doctor recommended Hyalgan injections to help the osteoarthritis in my knee. Hyalgan is a type of intra-articular knee injection.

_{Sources: CDRH Consumer Information Hyalgan, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, July 2, 2002; Hyaluronate Injection, MedicineNet, 3/2/2005; Patient Information Hyalgan, Sanofi-Aventis, hyalgan.com}