Treatment for Joint Osteoporosis without Surgery

SadaNews - A new minimally invasive medical procedure has been shown to alleviate chronic knee pain caused by joint osteoporosis without the need for surgery, according to a U.S. study.

Researchers from the NYU Langone Health center noted that this procedure provides a safe and effective alternative to traditional surgery for treating joint pain, and the results were published on Thursday in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

Chronic pain resulting from knee joint osteoporosis is a common condition that occurs when the cartilage begins to gradually wear away, leading to bone friction and irritation of surrounding tissues.

This wear causes inflammation in the joint and increased growth of small blood vessels that bring additional immune cells, exacerbating pain and swelling and limiting normal movement. Patients experience stiffness in the knee and difficulty bending or performing daily activities such as walking and climbing stairs, and over time, the pain can become persistent and significantly affect quality of life, necessitating the search for safe and effective treatment options.

The new procedure, known as "knee artery catheterization," is a minimally invasive operation performed under mild anesthesia in less than two hours by an interventional radiologist, aiming to alleviate pain without resorting to traditional surgery or joint replacement.

The treatment mechanism involves blocking the abnormal blood flow caused by inflammation due to cartilage wear, which leads to the growth of small blood vessels that intensify inflammation and pain. This is achieved by inserting a catheter through a small incision in the thigh to reach the targeted artery, followed by the injection of biocompatible hydrogel beads to block blood flow in any of the six arteries supplying the synovial membrane of the knee, reducing inflammation and alleviating pain.

After the procedure, patients undergo regular follow-ups to assess pain, knee stiffness, and mobility. Results showed that more than 60 percent of the 25 patients who underwent the procedure experienced significant improvement in symptoms after one year. Researchers also noted a marked decrease in the levels of two proteins associated with inflammation and structural changes in the knee, which could represent a biological indicator of treatment success.

The research team reported that the procedure is safe and effective for treating moderate to severe pain resulting from joint osteoporosis, and its benefits may extend beyond pain relief to affect the disease course itself. Side effects were limited, primarily to dark spots on the skin and mild pain near the incision site.

According to the team, this procedure is particularly suitable for patients who have not yet reached the stage of knee replacement or those unable to undergo surgery due to age or risk factors such as obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease, or smoking. Researchers plan to continue studying the mechanism of inflammation relief and the duration of benefits, and to identify the groups that benefit the most from it.