Comparative characteristics of the rheological properties of intra-articular prostheses based on hyaluronic acid

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease affecting more than 80 % people older than 55 years. The priority treatment method of osteoar- thritis is the use of intraarticular injections of the hyaluronic acid. Many hyaluronic acid preparations with different molecular weight, structure and concentra- tion are used in the world practiceThe purpose of the study was to study and compare the visco-elastic properties of various hyaluronic acid preparations available for commercial use. Materials and methods: the study of hyaluronic acid preparations included the measurement of dynamic viscosity and visco-elastic properties (elastic modulus G 'and loss modulus G). The dynamic viscosity was measured by rotational viscosimetry using a circulation thermostat.Results and discussion: The results of evaluating the rheological properties of the test samples showed that some implants have inhomogeneous viscoelastic characteristics. Ripart, Ripart Long (Ingal, Russia) and Hyaluron Hexal (USA) possess the optimal set of characteristics that allow them to be used effectively in the form of intra-articulatory injections for the treatment of inflammatory-degenerative joint diseases.