General Information

What is SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy?

SUPARTZ  Joint Fluid Therapy is a non-surgical, non-pharmacological pain-relieving therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. It is made of highly purified, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronan or HA). Hyaluronan is a natural chemical found in joint tissues and in the fluid that fills the joints (synovial fluid). The body’s own hyaluronan acts like a lubricant and shock absorber in synovial fluid of a healthy joint. Osteoarthritis reduces the synovial fluid’s ability to protect and lubricate a joint; injected directly into the knee, SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy temporarily replaces that cushioning lubricant.

HCPCS Code

J7321

Dosage and treatment course

One injection of SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy contains 25mg of sodium hyaluronate and is administered directly into the knee once a week. The approved treatment series of 5 injections delivers a total of 125mg of hyaluronan. Recent SUPARTZ label changes give healthcare providers greater latitude in determining when a patient’s needs have been met with SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy. (See package insert for details.)

Indication

The American College of Rheumatology recommends joint fluid therapy as an appropriate early treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) when simple exercise and over-the-counter painkillers are no longer adequate. It is suggested as a safe, local alternative to pharmaceuticals and a less invasive alternative to knee surgery. To view a chart describing where SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy fits into the continuum of patient care, please click here.

History

In 1987, SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy was approved in Japan as the first commercially available hyaluronan product for treating OA knee pain. In 2001, the FDA approved SUPARTZ Joint Fluid Therapy in the US for the treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative, non-pharmacological therapy and simple analgesics (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.).