Ultrasound Guided Hyaluronic Acid Injections in South London
Hyaluronic Acid Injections at our clinic
We are a leading musculoskeletal clinic offering diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound guided procedures such as hyaluronic acid injections for musculoskeletal pathologies. We perform all procedures as part of a comprehensive and global management of your condition.
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We offer our services at our South London clinic and also offer home visits in the South London area. A free telephone consultation is available to understand whether an ultrasound scan will be helpful and appropriate in your particular case.
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Booking is quick and easy, please see our book appointment page for more details.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the human body and present in various tissues and fluids, with high concentrations found in skin, eyes, and synovial fluid within joints. In joints and tendons, hyaluronic acid ensures normal, painless movement due to its lubricating and shock absorbing properties. It is also responsible for the nutrition of the cartilage. The production of hyaluronic acid in the body can decrease with age, and this reduction is associated with changes in joint health.
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Hyaluronic acid injections have been proven safe and effective for chronic moderate osteoarthritis and tendon disorders. We typically recommend these injections for knees and hip osteoarthritis or patellar, Achilles and posterior tibial tendinopathy. We use Ostenil Plus and Ostenil Tendon.
What our patients say
What can be treated with ultrasound guided cortisone injections?
Hyaluronic acid injections, also called viscosupplementation, is injected as a gel. Extensive medical research suggests that ultrasound guidance is more effective and decrease the risk of complications. The conditions that we treat include osteoarthritis especially for knee pain and tendon injuries like tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the Long Head of Biceps or posterior tibial tendon.
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How do Hyaluronic acid injections work ?
Mechanism of action and effects on joints and tendons is multiple but here are some general considerations:
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Joint Lubrication by supplementing the natural hyaluronic acid in the joint and potentially reducing friction and pain during joint movement.
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Anti-Inflammatory Properties.
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Stimulation of Tissue Healing by promoting the cellular activities of fibroblasts.
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Tendon Health by promoting tendon gliding, reducing adhesion as well as improving tendon architectural organisation.
How often do I need to have hyaluronic acid injections?
The frequency of hyaluronic acid injections depends on various factors, including the specific medical condition being treated, individual response to the injections, and individual features. Typically, we perform a single injection per joint and two injection with one week in between for tendons. Prior to repeat an injection, we will consider the severity and chronicity of the condition, the location of the injection, and any potential side effects associated with repeated use. There is no risk of becoming addict to hyaluronic acid if you have repeated procedures.
Hyaluronic acid injections can also be combined with corticosteroid injections in some occasions.
Why should I book my hyaluronic acid injection at Insight MSK?
All our procedures and diagnostics are part of a comprehensive management of your condition in line with recent scientific evidence. All injections are ultrasound guided, which have been proven to be more effective and are all preceded by a thorough clinical examination. We do not only diagnose or "fix" problems but we strive to understand the context and causative factors which have led to your condition in order to prevent re-occurrence. These require several skills and the ability to deal with complex and multiple information which often need the expertise from different specialists and therefore multiple appointments, travel, fees... We offer all these services together to give you a prompt single point of contact to assess, diagnose and manage your condition thanks to our unique and vast experience in musculoskeletal medicine.
Your clinician
All our injection treatments are carried out by our experienced physiotherapist and injection clinician, Maxence Legout. Max has over 15 years experience and holds a senior position in the NHS, where he carries out over 2000 ultrasound-guided injection & procedures every year.
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For more information please see our clinician page, or book a free telephone or online consultation to speak to Max directly.
What are the contraindications and risks associated to Hyaluronic Acid injections?
Hyaluronic acid injections are extremely safe and very rarely cause side effects. However, like with any medical intervention, there are risks of allergic reactions, infection, bruising, feeling of heat, redness, joint swelling, tachycardia, hypertension, hypotension, shortness of breath, nausea, itchiness or temporary increased pain after the procedure.
Hyaluronic acid preparations used in our clinic have been obtained by biofermentation and contain no animal protein but Ostenil Tendon contains mannitol which helps to stabilise the hyaluronic acid. If you have known allergy to Ostenil components it's an absolute contraindication. Other contraindications includes patients under 18, pregnant and breastfeeding women. We also do not inject hyaluronic acid on patients with rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis due to the absence of clinical studies. For more information, the manufacturer leaflets are available here for Ostenil Tendons and here for Ostenil Plus.
MEDICAL REVIEW - The medical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Maxence Legout, MSc, Physiotherapist.