Arthrosamid^® injections

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition that causes knee pain, stiffness and disability. It affects around 1 in 5 people over 45 in England. Knee osteoarthritis can impair your ability to exercise, walk and get around.

Osteoarthritis is a long-term disease in which there is progressive damage of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones. Cartilage is your natural shock-absorber. If you have osteoarthritis, the cartilage gets thinner, ragged and more uneven—the space between the bones narrows, and bone rubs against bone. The joint can become inflamed, and new bony lumps can form.

If you have knee osteoarthritis, your knee can become stiff, swollen and painful- however, The London Orthopaedic Clinic offers a range of treatments to reduce your pain and restore your movement.

Your consultant will refer you for your Arthrosamid® injection in the outpatients' ultrasound clinic. It is a minimally invasive procedure, performed under local anaesthetic, so you will not need to stay in hospital overnight. Treatment usually takes 20-30 minutes.

• The consultant Radiologist will clean the skin on your knee and give you antibiotics to reduce your risk of developing an infection.
• They will inject local anaesthetic to numb the skin and tissues around your knee. This may sting a little, but it shouldn't be painful.
• When the area is numb, the consultant will use ultrasound guidance to inject Arthrosamid® into your knee joint. They will give Arthrosamid® as a single injection through a fine needle.
• Finally, they will withdraw the needle and apply a plaster or small dressing to the wound.
  

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.

All joint injections carry risks; the specialists at The London Orthopaedic Clinic use best practice and care to reduce the risk of complications. All joint injections are carried out using ultrasound guidance, which ensures accurate injection placement, reduces pain and gives you better results.
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.