Glossary

Search our Glossary for further information about some of the terminology assosciated with Durolane.

Adverse reaction

An undesirable event occurring during or following the use of a medicine or a medical device.

Arthritis

A joint disease that can cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness, and/or redness of the skin over the joint.

Arthroscopy

Inspection of the inside of a joint of the body using an endoscope.

Cartilage

Fibrous, connective tissue found in humans that provides support to skeletal bones at specific sites and forms the smooth surface of joints.

Clinical trials

Investigations in humans to find out the efficacy or safety of medical drugs or devices.

Collagen

A tough, fibrous protein forming an important part of skin, tendons, bones, cartilage and other connective tissues. Collagen helps hold together the cells and tissues of the body.

Efficacy

The ability to produce the necessary or desired results.

Elasticity

The ability of a substance, in this case cartilage to return quickly to its original shape and size after being bent, stretched, or squashed.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar that is one of the body's important building stones filling many different functions and is also found in other organs in the body.

Intra-articular

Within the joint.

Orthopedics

The branch of medicine concerned with the nature and correction of disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, or muscles.

Osteoarthritis

A joint disease that is characterized by a breakdown of the cartilage and a deterioration of the fluid in a joint; symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness.

Rheumatology

The area of medicine that is concerned with the causes, development, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the joints, muscles, and connective tissues.

Side-effect

An undesirable event occurring during or following the use of a medicine or a medical device.

Synovial fluid

The hyaluronan-containing fluid found in a joint that lubricates and cushions the joint.

Viscosity

The property of a fluid or semi-fluid that causes it to be thick, and resist flowing.

Viscosupplementation

A procedure that restores the shock-absorbing and lubricating properties of the synovial fluid in people with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.