New AMSSM Viscosupplementation Guidelines

Treatment of knee osteoarthritis can be controversial and is often debated.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone and is one of the leading causes of disability in adults in the United States. Around 1 in 11 Americans is diagnosed with symptomatic knee OA by the age of 60.

The American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM) has issued new recommendations regarding the non-operative treatment of OA. After reviewing the latest data, AMSSM recommends viscosupplementation injections as a non-operative treatment option for knee osteoarthritis patients over the age of 60 and recommends physicians collect data to track each patient’s response to viscosupplementation treatment. AMSSM also suggests viscosupplementation injections for knee osteoarthritis patients under 60 years based on evidence from the treatment response of patients over 60.

Dr. Robert Flannery weighs in on the new viscosupplementation recommendations from the AMSSM:

“I was very excited to see the new recommendations that the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine came out with regarding viscosupplementation.   Viscosupplementation is a viable treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knees.  It has an outstanding safety profile and can be used in conjunction with other conservative measures.  It can be used as either a bridge to knee replacement surgery or for long term treatment.  I whole heartedly support the recommendations made by AMSSM.”

Dr. Robert Flannery specializes in Primary Care Sports Medicine and provides musculoskeletal care to patients at Lemak Sports Medicine Gardendale and Hoover locations. For more information, call (205)631-8887 or (205)444-2025.