Hyaluronic acid and other conservative treatment options for Osteoarthritis of the Ankle

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative condition that affects a significant proportion of the general population.The way the condition progresses can be variable; however, there is no doubt that it has a negative impact on the quality of life of individuals due to associated pain and loss of function in the affected joint. Typically, patients present with OA in major joints such as the hip and knee, with cartilage degradation usually attributed to an underlying inflammatory process ( Stott & Wells, 2016 ). In contrast, in patients with OA of the ankle, the cause of the disease is different. These patients tend to be younger and typically present with pain and loss of function following fracture of the ankle or lower leg. It is well recognized that in the younger population, ankle trauma due to sporting injury is a common occurrence. As a result, these patients can expect to experience pain and loss of function for a much longer period of time, which has a significant impact on their quality of life.