A NEW jab eases the agony of arthritis in the knee – without having to resort to surgery, according to a new study.
The “minimally invasive” procedure may prevent knee replacement surgery for millions of people with osteoarthritis as well as providing “significant” pain relief.
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Knee osteoarthritis, the leading chronic joint disorder, affects over 365 million adults worldwide, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Most currently available therapies – such as pain medication and steroid injections – only mask the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and don’t slow its progression.
As the condition worsens and treatments become ineffective, many people turn to joint replacement surgery.
Doctors say the new treatment, called genicular artery embolisation (GAE), is an innovative minimally invasive therapy for patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
They explained that genicular arteries have several branches that form a network around the knee joint.
Those vessels are altered in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
In GAE, an interventional radiologist injects small particles into selected branches that correspond to the site of knee pain to block blood flow to that area.
The German research team explained that embolisation of the abnormal blood vessels helps to disrupt the cycle of inflammation, cartilage destruction and sensory nerve growth that characterises osteoarthritis.
Study lead author Doctor Florian Fleckenstein, of Charity University Hospital Berlin, said: “This study addresses osteoarthritis, which is a significant public health issue and the leading cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide.
“With millions of people affected by knee osteoarthritis, particularly in ageing populations, finding effective, minimally invasive treatments is critical.”
For the study, Dr Fleckenstein and his team analysed 403 cases of patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis who didn’t respond to conservative treatments.
All the patients, aged 40 to 90, underwent GAE at the hospital in Berlin.
The study was designed to evaluate both the safety and efficacy of GAE across a wide range of osteoarthritis cases.
The procedure’s effectiveness was assessed using standardised pain and quality-of-life scores at the start and follow-ups: six weeks, three months, six months, and one year later.
Technical success was achieved in all of the procedures.
Temporary slight skin discolouration and mild knee pain immediately after the procedure were noted in 18 per cent of the cases, but no severe complications were reported.
From green tea to yoga – I tried 9 arthritis remedies, the best were quick and free
NASTASHA Harding one of the ten million people in the UK with arthritis.
Nearly half of sufferers depend on the use of painkillers to manage symptoms.
But GPs should tell patients to exercise and lose weight first, NICE guidance for osteoarthritis, says.
Consultant rheumatologist, Dr Rod Hughes said: “I always encourage patients to take as few of these painkillers as possible and to look for safe natural supplements.”
The writer suffered from back ache for 17 years after a lorry drove into the rear of my car.
Since then she’s managed the pain with a combination of osteopathy, yoga and being mindful of how she lifts and carries things.
However, in 2022 the pain changed and every night her left leg was in agony, as well as her hips and groin.
An X-ray confirmed arthritis in her spine, which can occur after a traumatic incident such as a car accident.
Desperate to find ways to ease my pain, she’s tested a range of options since my diagnosis.
As the weather changes, exacerbating symptoms, here, she gives them marks out of five for how well they did and didn’t work.
Click here to read her full review.
The quality-of-life index and pain score improved by 87 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively, one year after the procedure.
The researchers found GAE to be a “safe and effective” treatment for all stages of knee osteoarthritis, even in advanced cases.
Dr Fleckenstein said: “Our study found that GAE can effectively reduce knee pain and improve quality of life early after the treatment, with these benefits being maintained over the long term.
“This was especially [the case] for people who haven’t had success with other treatments like physical therapy or pain medications.
“This could potentially offer a new lease on life for many patients who suffer from debilitating pain and mobility issues, caused by osteoarthritis.”
The study also showed that GAE is “particularly effective” in the early stages of knee osteoarthritis.
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The research team say it indicates that early intervention could potentially delay or even prevent disease progression, reducing the need for more invasive treatments, such as knee surgery.
They hope that the study could influence medical practice and policy, encouraging broader adoption of GAE worldwide.
Dr Fleckenstein added: “GAE has the potential to reduce the need for more invasive surgeries, lower health care costs and significantly improve the quality of life for countless individuals suffering from knee osteoarthritis.”
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago.
Earlier this year, scientists created a new injectable “goo” they believe could reverse the damage done by agonising conditions like osteoarthritis.
Northwestern University created a substance from hyaluronic acid and peptide that regrows cartilage between joints.
