Types of Knee Arthritis Treatment

There are several types of treatments for knee arthritis, from nonsurgical therapy to surgery and platelet rich plasma injections. Let's look at each type of treatment in more detail. While there is no cure for knee arthritis Brisbane, there are many options for reducing pain and improving function. Fortunately, there are several treatments to choose from, and finding one that works for you can be challenging. The following are some common treatment options to consider. Weigh your options carefully before making a decision.

Nonsurgical treatments

A recent study of nonsurgical treatment options for knee arthritis found that some of them could eliminate pain and inflammation within the first year. Gingival artery embolization (GAE) is one such procedure. This minimally invasive treatment is done by injecting small particles into the arteries in the knee to block blood flow. In this procedure, the embolization blocks the flow of blood to the knee, limiting the inflammatory enzymes that are associated with arthritis. These small particles also reduce the pain associated with arthritis.

Other nonsurgical treatments for knee arthritis are prescription-strength NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors. These drugs have similar effects as traditional NSAIDs, but are regarded as less likely to cause stomach problems. In the United States, there is only one COX-2 inhibitor available, Celecoxib. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that are injected directly into the knee joint. Although they can reduce pain and inflammation, they can only help a limited degree and may become ineffective as the arthritis progresses.

Surgery

If you have severe pain in your knee, you may want to consider surgery for knee arthritis treatment. While many people who have undergone this surgery see significant improvement, a few patients experience a few side effects. If you have had a previous joint replacement operation, you should discuss the risks and benefits of revision surgery with your doctor. If you are not satisfied with your results, you may consider another type of treatment. Surgery for knee arthritis may be a good option if all other options have failed.

Surgical options for knee arthritis treatment include arthroscopy, bone marrow stimulation, and resurfacing. These options involve two separate surgeries to remove damaged cartilage and re-implant healthy cells. Autologous chondrocyte implantation is an option for a limited area of joint damage or for patients with early stages of arthritis. These procedures can also be performed on younger patients or on individuals with smaller or isolated areas of cartilage damage.

Platelet-rich plasma injections

A new study from Italy showed that Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections could be an effective treatment for early-stage knee osteoarthritis. Inflammation erodes the extracellular matrix in the joints, which causes cartilage bricks to fall out of the hole. The protein enzymes in the inflammatory cycle attack substances that protect the extracellular matrix. Injections of PRP can replace the damaged tissue, which may be a more effective treatment for knee arthritis.

A new study found that intra-articular PRP injections had more beneficial effects on knee arthritis symptoms than hyaluronic acid or saline injections. In September 2015, the journal Arthroscopy published results of a study comparing PRP injections with a placebo group. Both groups showed significant improvements in knee pain over 12 months. The study also found no difference in MRI scans between the two groups.

Magnetic pulse therapy

Using a magnetotherapy device, PEMF therapy was applied to both knees of a supine patient. The PEMF intensity ranged from two milliwatts to 10 milliwatts. The treatments lasted for approximately 35 minutes. The patients were administered 15 sessions over three weeks. After a single session, the pain score significantly decreased, but the activity score was not affected. PEMF had no significant effect on the overall score.

While the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields is controversial, the results of numerous randomized trials suggest the treatment is effective for treating knee OA. The European League Against Rheumatism did not analyse the effectiveness of PEMF in 2000, despite the fact that the treatment was widely used by physicians for over two decades. Later, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARS) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACS) both recognized PEMF as a viable treatment option for patients suffering from OA.

Queensland Orthopaedic Clinic is a group of like-minded, sub-specialist trained medical professionals providing personalised patient care.