Viscosupplementation treatment, a type of lubricating joint injection often referred to by its most common trade name of 'Synvisc,' has been used for more than a decade in the knee joint. Recently, investigators have looked into the use of Synvisc (and other types of viscosupplementation) in other joints including the hips, shoulders, and ankles.
A recent study compared the use of viscuspplementation versus a saline injection into the ankle joint. This study was very well done, as the patients and doctors did not know which injection was being done, and therefore the results tend to have less bias. The study only used a single injection, where some doctors may use three or more, but found no better results in the patients who received the placebo injection for ankle arthritis.
Related: Ankle Arthritis | Synvisc Injections
Synvisc injections have been administered on my ankle and I the injections relieved my pain. Unfortunately, the injections are not covered by insurance since the medical trials have not been conducted on ankles therefore, I am responsible for the payment of the injections.
I had broken an ankle and after the ankle healed, the pain eventually returned. Cortisone shots did not relieve the pain, however, I found a othopedic surgeon who administers synvisc shots on ankles. I have had three shots of synvisc and the shots ameliorated the pain.
With every fracture, arthritis forms and there is a loss of synovial fluid.At this point, arthritis in my ankle is not extensive therefore the injections work.