What is knee osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a degenerative condition characterised by the wearing down of the articular cartilage that provides cushioning at the ends of the femur and tibia. This tissue breakdown commonly leads to pain, swelling, stiffness, decreased range of movement and a crunching sensation when you move the knee, known as crepitus.
Osteoarthritis may make daily activities challenging, such as climbing stairs and walking. The pain and loss of movement can ultimately lead to muscle weakness and atrophy.
How do we manage knee arthritis?
Osteoarthritis can be managed with:
Activity modification
Rest
Physiotherapy, which includes stretching and strengthening the muscles and improving the range of movement.
Over the counter medication, like paracetamol and ibuprofen. (It is important to speak to your GP or a Healthcare Professional before any medication is taken.)
Steroid Injections reduce inflammation and help with the pain and stiffness.
Hyaluronic acid/ViscoSupplementation Injections provide joint lubrication and reduce inflammation and pain.
PRP Injections help reduce pain and inflammation and promote rehabilitation.
Surgery
In this discussion, we will be looking at nSTRIDE APS injections and their role in managing knee arthritis.
What is nSTRIDE?
nSTRIDE APS is an autologous (from your body) form of therapy that has been developed specifically to treat joint pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
It is recommended for patients with early to moderate osteoarthritis.
nSTRIDE injection is an autologous protein solution therapy containing high concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. It is a form of PRP (platelet-rich-plasma), one of the latest biologic regenerative treatments used to manage knee arthritis.
How is nSTRIDE administered?
It is a very simple, minimally invasive procedure that involves taking the patient’s own blood from their arm and processing it in the clinic to concentrate white blood cells, platelets and plasma proteins into a small volume of plasma. The output is approximately 2 to 3 mls of highly concentrated protein rich solution. This solution is then injected into the affected knee joint under ultrasound guidance.
The nSTRIDE APS injection treatment is designed to alleviate pain and inflammation and bring balance back to your inflamed knee joint by introducing high levels of “good” proteins concentrated from your own blood.
How many nSTRIDE injections will a patient need?
The nSTRIDE APS injection is designed to be a single injection therapy carried out in an out-patient clinic setting, under aseptic conditions with no major side effects.
What are the benefits of nSTRIDE APS injections over other Osteoarthritis treatments?
Compared to traditional osteoarthritis treatment, nSTRIDE APS injections offer several benefits, including:
Longer lasting results from ONE injection of up to two years
Significant reduction in inflammation and pain in the affected knee joint
Prevents further cartilage degeneration
Protects existing cartilage cells
Slows down the progression of osteoarthritis
Minimally invasive procedure
Avoids/Delays major knee surgery
No risk of adverse reactions
Why use nSTRIDE over PRP?
Compared with PRP, nSTRIDE provides a higher concentration of white blood cells and plasma proteins.
What are the risks of nSTRIDE injections?
The biggest risk associated with nSTRIDE injections is no response to the treatment. There is a 20-30% chance it will not help to settle down any pain and inflammation that you may be experiencing.
Around 10% of these injections may cause a flare or an inflammatory response within the joint. Therefore, you may feel a bit of stiffness or pain. This could last from between 48-72 hours post-procedure. If this occurs, the best thing to do is to place an ice pack directly onto the affected joint or take a paracetamol.
PLEASE NOTE: You cannot take any anti inflammatories for at least 7 days after the procedure, as anti inflammatories negate the effects of the nSTRIDE injection. What is knee osteoarthritis?