MSK research team measuring cartilage stiffness after new knee arthritis treatment

A team of Glasgow Caledonian musculoskeletal (MSK) experts are working with a local orthopaedic surgeon to evaluate how a new treatment for knee arthritis works.

Dr David Hamilton, Dr Lisa Wright and Dr Diane Dickson, from the School of Health and Life Sciences’ Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) Musculoskeletal Health Research Group, have teamed up with Professor Graeme Hopper, a Consultant Orthopaedic Knee Surgeon at Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow.

Dr Hamilton explained: “Stiff and swollen joints are a huge problem affecting quality of life for around one in four adults in the UK. Arthrosamid is a new treatment that treats the synovitis (swelling of the lining of the joint) that is part of knee arthritis. This injectable hydrogel integrates with the lining of the knee joint to thicken that tissue and to provide a barrier.

“Pain relief following the treatment been demonstrated in small clinical trials but the mechanism of action has not been well demonstrated clinically.

“The MSK team secured funding from the manufacturer, Contrura international, to use our state-of-the-art shear wave sonoelastography ultrasound scanner to assess cartilage stiffness of the synovial membrane and measure if this has changed following the hydrogel injection.

“The team hope to be able to both quantify and qualify how the stiffness changes and understand how this translates to reduced pain and improved mobility.”