Viscosupplementation: a new concept in the treatment of osteoarthritis
Balazs, E.A.; Denlinger, J.L.
Journal of Rheumatology. Supplement 39: 3-9
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0380-0903 PMID: 8410881 Document Number: 409233
Viscosupplementation is a new medical concept that has as its therapeutic goal the restoration of rheological homeostasis in pathological structures such as osteoarthritic joints. When the normal viscoelasticity of a solid tissue compartment or the elastoviscosity of a liquid tissue compartment is decreased under pathological conditions, normal function and regenerative processes are impaired. By introducing viscosupplementary devices, the normal rheological state of such compartments is restored or augmented. These devices stay in the tissue compartment for various periods of time, depending on the nature of the viscosupplement and the pathophysiology of the tissue compartment.