Knee treatment without surgery offers lasting pain relief for 80% of arthritis patients, study finds
“For many patients with knee osteoarthritis, there is a real treatment gap today,” said Florian Nima Fleckenstein, M.D., deputy head of Interventional Radiology Campus Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in a press release.
“Our study demonstrates that GAE using rapidly resorbable gelatin-based microspheres is a safe, minimally invasive therapy that provides meaningful pain relief and functional improvement in participants with osteoarthritis-related knee symptoms for at least 12 months.”
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During GAE, doctors use real-time X-ray guidance to steer a thin, flexible tube into the blood vessels surrounding the knee joint.
Then they release tiny, dissolvable gelatin particles into specific vessels to slow excess blood flow to the inflamed areas.
Unlike traditional joint implants, the microscopic gelatin particles dissolve naturally over time after calming local inflammation. (iStock)
Across 239 total procedures performed on 194 study participants, none experienced severe complications.
Only 6.7% reported mild side effects, such as brief skin discoloration or minor bruising, issues that resolved on their own.
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“In our cohort, we saw a significant drop in pain and a significant increase in function, including sports and recreation and daily activity,” Fleckenstein said.
“Most importantly, their quality of life significantly increased.”
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In addition to feeling less pain, participants experienced gains in daily mobility. Patients reported easier walking, climbing stairs and bending, while overall quality-of-life scores more than doubled over the 12-month follow-up period.
Limitations of study
While the results are promising, researchers note several important limitations.
First, the study did not include a control group receiving a mock or placebo procedure.
Because the study on knee pain lacked a placebo control group and tracked outcomes for only 12 months, larger randomized trials are needed to confirm the long-term duration and physiological impact of the new treatment. (iStock)
Without a comparison group, it is difficult to isolate the physical benefits of the dissolvable particles from potential placebo effects, the researchers said.
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Second, the study tracked patients for only one year.
Further research is needed to determine how long the pain relief typically lasts and how often repeat treatments might be required.
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Finally, while GAE effectively reduces inflammation and pain, the researchers said it is not a cure.
The procedure does not rebuild lost cartilage or reverse structural joint damage. Larger, randomized trials are currently underway to confirm these early findings.
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for further comment.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/knee-treatment-without-surgery-offers-lasting-pain-relief-80-arthritis-patients-study