Sodium hyaluronate, a drug which was approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to treat osteoarthritis of the knee several years ago, is also an effective treatment for shoulder pain, according to a new study from Columbia University Medical School which was presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.

In the study, sodium hyaluronate reduced chronic pain by about 50% for patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the shoulder. These results are similar to the 1998 study which led the FDA to approve sodium hyaluronate for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. The use of sodium hyaluronate to treat shoulder pain is currently under review by the FDA.

• What is Hyalgan?
• What is Viscosupplementation?
• Guide to Shoulder Problems

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