6 days ago 17 Arthrosamid is an injectable treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee. It works by mimicking the properties of synovial fluid, which occurs naturally inside the joint helping to cushion it as you move. Injecting Arthrosamid – a biocompatible hydrogel containing cross-linked polyacrylamide and water – increases synovial elasticity in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This supports improved mobility and range of movement and reduces pain in the joint. In this article we will examine how Arthrosamid works and what some of the latest data shows.
Whether you have chronic or acute knee osteoarthritis, the synovium plays a key role in the development of the disease. Also called the synovial membrane, it is a thin layer of connective tissue that lines the inside of the joint capsule, encasing the joint in a layer of synovial fluid. This fluid is important for protecting the joint and enabling it to move smoothly. As osteoarthritis progresses, it creates a cycle of synovial inflammation and damage. The synovial membrane loses elasticity which results in further inflammation and leads to pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of function.
Arthrosamid is injected directly into the synovial cavity of the damaged knee. It disperses within the natural synovial fluid, spreading throughout the joint as you move your knee. It takes around four to six weeks for Arthrosamid to become fully integrated with the synovial fluid and up to 3 months to be incorporated in the synovial membrane. The presence of Arthrosamid inside the knee joint helps to increase elasticity of the synovial tissue which, in turn, supports better joint function and provides lasting pain relief.
Arthrosamid injections are used to treat mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that causes symptoms such as pain, stiffness and loss of function in the knee. Arthrosamid injections may be particularly suitable for people whose work or sporting activities place their knees under stress, making them especially prone to osteoarthritic pain. For more severe symptoms, operative treatments generally offer the most effective forms of relief. In some cases, Arthrosamid may be used to delay the need for surgery, which reduces the risk of needing revision joint replacement surgery at a later date to replace a worn-out implant.
A team of researchers at Keele University set out to determine the clinical effectiveness of Arthrosamid for knee osteoarthritis six months after treatment. It recruited patients to receive a 6ml injection of Arthrosamid based on a range of inclusion criteria (including a knee pain score of greater than 40/100 on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Certain patients were excluded from the study, including those who had received an Arthrosamid injection within the previous 12 months, as well as those with a BMI of more than 35. Sixty-two patients took part in the study (33 men and 29 women), with an average age of 55 years.
Synovial fluid was collected from the patients’ knee joint immediately prior to the Arthrosamid injection and again three months after treatment. The team used the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score to measure outcomes at three, six and 12 months after treatment, compared with the patients’ baseline scores. The study showed Arthrosamid provided a clinically meaningful improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis, with an overall improvement rate of 76% at six months.
Separate data supplied by Arthrosamid – based on the IDA, ROSA and DAISY studies – showed that, following a single injection, Arthrosamid patients exceeded nine points on the MCID (Minimally Clinically Important Difference) scale. These improvements were maintained for up to four years.
If you have knee osteoarthritis and would like to talk about the range of treatment options available to you, including Arthrosamid injections and knee replacement surgery, including Mako Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery (Partial and Total), contact us for more details.
We are always happy to provide information and guidance about the various treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, including Mako Robotic Arm Assisted Surgery and conventional surgery.
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