One in every five people has knee osteoarthritis, making it a leading cause of knee pain worldwide. The number of cases of osteoarthritis globally is rising – up 113% between 1990 and 20191. In the UK, 10 million people have osteoarthritis and more than half of them – 5.4 million – are affected by knee osteoarthritis2. It is a degenerative disease, which means the symptoms worsen as the condition develops.
Surgery is the most common treatment for people with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, however, it is not suitable for everyone and some people would prefer an alternative. An Arthrosamid injection is a non-surgical treatment that offers effective and sustained relief from symptoms for people with knee osteoarthritis.
GET IN TOUCH – + 44 (0)7495 602424
Benefits of Arthrosamid injections
Arthrosamid® is a permanent injectable hydrogel that provides sustained pain relief for people with knee osteoarthritis. The treatment uses intra-articular polyacrylamide hydrogel (or iPAAG), avoiding the need for surgery. The injection is performed under local anaesthetic by a qualified clinician. Patients can go home the same day.
While surgery for knee osteoarthritis is routine and highly effective, it is not suitable for everyone. As with all surgery, there is a small risk of complications such as blood clots, infections to the wound site or damage to the nerves or tissue. There is also a significant period of recovery and recuperation after surgery, which can be disruptive and inconvenient. Arthrosamid® injections are a new and effective alternative to surgery for most people with knee osteoarthritis.
Arthrosamid® helps to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for up to three years after treatment.
How it works
Inflammation of the synovial tissue, which lines the inside of the knee joint, appears to be strongly linked with levels of pain in knee osteoarthritis. The role of synovial tissue is to create and seal synovial fluid inside the synovial cavity and support chondrocyte nutrition. When there are inflammatory cells in the knee joint, enzymes build up which can cause cartilage breakdown. At the same time, the synovial tissue or fluid may become damaged and the affected tissues inflamed, resulting in more inflammatory cells. Synovial tissue damage can be associated with rapid loss of cartilage in knee osteoarthritis.
Risk factors
Arthrosamid injections are part of a new class of injectable therapy used to treat knee osteoarthritis. They use polyacrylamide hydrogel that has undergone two decades of research.
Treatment with Arthrosamid® may not be safe if you have an infection in or around the knee, have haemophilia, take anticoagulant medication, or have had a knee arthroscopy within the past six months.
Your specialist may advise delaying or avoiding treatment if you have poorly controlled diabetes, are undergoing major dental work, or have been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition.
What do Arthrosamid® injections treat?
Arthrosamid® injections are used to treat knee osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that causes a range of symptoms including pain, stiffness and loss of function in the knee.
Who they help
Arthrosamid® injections are suitable for most people with knee osteoarthritis, but particularly those whose work or sporting activities place their knees under stress, making them prone to osteoarthritic pain.
FAQ’s
How effective is Arthrosamid®?
In studies, Arthrosamid® exceeds the MCID (minimal clinical important differences) of nine points, at 163. Improvement is maintained up to three years after a single injection. Patients under 70 reported close to an 80% positive response rate following treatment.
What are the benefits of Arthrosamid® injections?
Arthrosamid® offers safe and sustained relief from the pain of knee osteoarthritis, improving movement and boosting your quality of life.
The hydrogel is designed not to degrade in the body, giving long-lasting pain relief. In clinical trials, patients noticed significantly reduced pain symptoms four weeks after injection, and this was maintained when they were followed up after two years.
Other injectable treatments, including steroid injections, are effective for a much shorter time. Arthrosamid is active for longer, and you can receive repeated injections without endangering the health and structure of your knee joint.
What are the risks of Arthrosamid® injections?
All joint injections carry risks but Arthrosamid® is generally very safe; there were no serious side effects in clinical trials. The risks of Arthrosamid® injections include:
- Pain following the injection.
- Swelling around the injection site.
- A small risk of allergy to the medication.
- A small risk of joint infection. Your consultant will give you antibiotics to protect against infection.
Are there any side-effects?
No serious side-effects have been reported in studies. The most commonly reported minor side-effects were short-term pain at the injection site or brief knee swelling.
Can anyone have an Arthrosamid® injection?
There are some circumstances where an Arthrosamid® injection may not be suitable, for example, if you have undergone a knee arthroscopy within the last six months or if you have an infection near the injection site. Your consultant will discuss your individual circumstances with you and advise on the best treatment options.
What other treatment options are there for knee osteoarthritis?
There are several treatment options for knee osteoarthritis depending on the severity of your symptoms, your lifestyle and general state of health. When you book an appointment with Mr Andrew Carrothers he can advise on the range of surgical and/or non-surgical treatments that may be suitable for you.
Related news
Click to find out more or join our newsletter to receive all the latest news straight to your inbox.
Take the first step to a pain-free life
If you are experiencing pain in your pelvis, hip, knee or ankle, or are suffering from a sports injury, seek specialist help to get you back to living your life. Contact can be made direct, or through your GP.
Email:
enquiries@carrothersorthopaedics.co.uk
Phone:
+ 44 (0)7495 602424