Synvisc-One Knee Injection Complications

About 6% of people injected with Synvisc-One during clinical trials reported some type of side effect. Reactions to the arthritis gel generally went away on their own or with minimal treatment.

According to the drug’s maker, side effects sometimes seen after injection include joint pain and swelling. A contaminated batch of Synvisc-One knee injections led to an increase in reported complications in 2017.

The package insert for the arthritis injections says the most commonly reported problems associated with them include pain, swelling, heat, redness and fluid build-up around the knee. The manufacturer says these reactions are usually mild and don’t last long.

They are typically treated by resting and applying ice to the affected knee. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take pain relievers such as acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. A doctor may decide to inject steroids or remove fluid from the knee joint.

The label says there have been rare reports of thrombocytopenia, a condition in which blood has a lower than normal number of platelets. Platelets are blood cell fragments that stick together to form clots and stop bleeding.

Patients and doctors have also reported reactions involving hypersensitivity to the injections, including severe allergic responses.

Sanofi Genzyme saw a spike in reported complications from its Synvisc-One knee injections in late 2017. The reports often mirrored common side effects of the arthritis gel. But the number of complaints was higher than expected. In some cases, patients reported more severe symptoms.

The company investigated and discovered gram-negative bacteria had contaminated some syringes. Gram-negative bacteria include E. coli and Salmonella as well as several other difficult-to-treat bacteria. Sanofi Genzyme did not name the exact bacteria that contaminated the syringes.

The bacteria can cause pneumonia and bloodstream, wound and surgical-site infections. Some are resistant to antibiotics. This can force health care providers to rely on older drugs for treatment. But older antibiotics may have toxic side effects.

The manufacturer recalled 18,000 syringes in December 2017. The recall notice warned that the affected lot “may result in the risk of infection.”

The side effects from the contaminated lot mimicked typical complications. But some patients reported issues that required outpatient, emergency room and hospital treatment.

Several people experienced severe pain and swelling after the arthritis treatments. Doctors and patients reported the complications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

One report said a patient became unstable after an injection. The patient’s knee was unable to support her weight. Another patient reportedly spent a week in bed after an injection.

Some patients needed multiple outpatient treatments to drain fluid from their knees. Others required emergency room visits or hospitalization.

As of 2022, people who received contaminated injections and then suffered complications are filing Synvisc-One lawsuits against Sanofi Genzyme and Genzyme Biosurgery.