Supartz


What is SUPARTZ?

SUPARTZ is used for the treatment of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee in patients who have failed to get adequate relief from simple painkillers or from exercise and physical therapy. SUPARTZ is a solution consisting of highly purified sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronan). Hyaluronan is a natural substance found in the body and is a common constituent of connective tissues and the thick, viscous fluid (synovial fluid) found in joints. Hyaluronan acts like a lubricant and shock absorber in synovial fluid of a healthy joint. Osteoarthritis reduces your synovial fluid's ability to protect and lubricate your joint.

Why did your doctor select SUPARTZ for my therapy?

Your physician chose SUPARTZ for good reasons:
  1. SUPARTZ is #1 in the world.

    SUPARTZ is the most commonly used joint fluid therapy in the world! More than 102 million SUPARTZ injections have been sold worldwide since its introduction in 1987. This wealth of clinical experience provides you with the confidence that SUPARTZ, the world's most prescribed joint fluid therapy is both safe and effective. It was also the first hyaluronan in the world available commercially for human use in treating the pain of osteoarthritis.

  2. SUPARTZ is safe.

    In the five clinical studies conducted, adverse events occurred at similar rates in the patients treated with SUPARTZ and those treated with salt water. The following were the most common adverse events: joint pain with no evidence of inflammation, joint pain with evidence of inflammation, back pain, pain (non-specific), injection site reaction, headache and injection site pain.

    No severe allergic reactions were observed in any study patients. Five (5) mild to moderate allergic reactions were reported in the SUPARTZ group.

    No anaphylactic reactions were observed in any study patients.

  3. SUPARTZ is effective.

    The extensive worldwide clinical history of SUPARTZ gives your doctor the confidence that SUPARTZ will safely offer you relief from your knee pain.

  4. SUPARTZ administers more active ingredient per series directly to the site of your knee pain.




How is SUPARTZ administered?

SUPARTZ is administered by an injection once a week into your knee for a total of five injections. Your doctor may recommend a local anesthetic prior to injection of SUPARTZ to minimize the possible discomfort associated with an injection.

Do I need all five injections to experience the best pain relief?

Ask your doctor. The treatment that is best for you should be determined by your physician. However, the effectiveness of a single treatment cycle of less than five injections has not been established.

What should you expect following your series of injections?

The goal of SUPARTZ is relief from pain. You may experience some pain relief before you receive the full series of five injections. However, studies suggest that most patients experiencing relief do so after the full series of five injections. The actual amount and duration of pain relief varies from patient to patient.

Immediately after you have the injection and for the next 48 hours, you may need to avoid activities such as jogging, tennis, heavy lifting or standing for a long time. Please note that no treatment, including SUPARTZ helps in every single patient.

Are there any reasons why you should not utilize SUPARTZ?
  • You should not use this product if you have a known hypersensitivity (allergy) to SUPARTZ or sodium hyaluronate preparations.
  • Inform your doctor if you are allergic to avian proteins, feathers and egg products.
  • Intra-articular injections are contraindicated in cases of infections or skin diseases in the area of the injection site.
  • The safety and effectiveness of SUPARTZ have not been established in pregnant women, in lactating women and in children.
For more information, please refer to the Patient Information at the end of this brochure.

Will joint fluid therapy with SUPARTZ be covered by my insurance?

Joint fluid therapy is covered by most insurance plans. The procedures for reimbursement vary from payer to payer and even from policy to policy within a payer. Many require that your doctor provide SUPARTZ at the office. If your physician does not stock SUPARTZ and he/she prescribes it, some insurance plans, particularly Medicare, may not cover the charges. We recommend you discuss reimbursement with your physician as well as your insurer before you begin treatment.

How can you get more information about SUPARTZ?
  1. Ask your doctor
  2. Consult the SUPARTZ Internet site at www.supartz.com
Who is Smith & Nephew plc?
Smith & Nephew plc develops and markets advanced medical devices to deliver cost-effedve solutions, significant physician advantage and real patient benefit. Smith & Nephew plc is headquartered in London, U.K., and publicly traded in both London and New York (ticker symbol: SNN).

OSSMS.COM ©2003
Web Design by incision graphics