Osteoarthritis Health Center

'Chicken Shots' May Replace Knee Replacement in Some

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"Up until now, I think many people were reserving this treatment for patients with moderate levels of osteoarthritis," Waddell tells WebMD. "These studies show that it is very effective in patients with advanced disease, and that it is safe and effective as repeat treatment."

Singletary recently underwent a third round of injections, which were unsuccessful, because he now has calcium deposits within the soft tissue of his knee. Even though the doctor will soon be scheduling a second knee replacement surgery, he says he would still recommend the injections to anyone.

"I had three good years with very little pain at a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the risk of surgery," he says. "After I had gone through the second round of injections, a former patient called and asked what I was doing about my knees. I told her about the chicken shots, but they had never heard of it where she lived. I told her to get a plane ticket and come to Shreveport."