Osteoarthritis affects around 15% of the Australian population, and is a leading cause of debilitating pain in the ageing population. (MJA) Approximately 65,000 total knee replacement operations are performed in Australia each year (AOANJRR 2019), putting it amongst the most commonly performed elective surgeries. There are a variety of non surgical treatment options for knee osteoarthritis, including anti inflammatory medications and physiotherapy.
Imaging guided intra-articular injections have been used for many years including cortisone and local anaesthetic, Platelet Rich Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid injections.
Intra-articular injections of synthetic Hyaluronic Acid replicates the synovial fluid found naturally in the joint space. The viscosity and shock-absorbing properties of normal synovial fluid may be temporarily replicated or restored, which can reduce knee joint pain and stiffness in osteoarthritis. It has been proposed that synthetic hyaluronan may interfere with inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and prostaglandins which promote joint pain and swelling in OA.
Adverse events after intra-articular injections are rare, and radiologic severity of knee osteoarthritis changes may be predictive of successful treatment outcomes.
Panorama Radiology Specialists offers imaging guided intra-articular injections for symptomatic osteoarthritis in most joints of the body. Please discuss with your doctor whether these may be appropriate in your individual clinical situation.
I’m always happy to discuss individual cases with referring clinicians – if you’re a medical practitioner seeking an opinion on which imaging-guided pain management measures may be most appropriate and beneficial in an individual clinical situation, please feel free to contact me directly.
Dr Angus Watts
MBBS, FRANZCR