Embolization of arteries against arthrosis

Scientists have developed a non-surgical procedure that will relieve joint pain

Evgenia Chernysheva, Naked Science

Osteoarthritis, or deforming osteoarthritis, is the most common type of arthritis, a chronic disease affecting joints, articular cartilage, bones, muscles and ligaments. As a result of the fact that the cartilages gradually thin out, their cushioning functions are disrupted, and subsequently they can completely deform. The main symptom of osteoarthritis is a constant aching pain in the bones, which increases with sudden movements.

At the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology in the USA, the lead author of the work Sandeep Bagla and his colleagues spoke about the method of arterial embolization of knee joints. It is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure – blockage of blood vessels to stop inflammatory processes.

A prospective clinical study involved 13 people suffering from osteoarthritis. Having previously assessed the strength of the patients' pain sensations on a visual analog scale, radiologists inserted catheters into the affected areas through a small puncture and blocked the arteries and capillaries with emboli. On average, the process took from 40 to 90 minutes, did not require additional surgery or physiotherapy and was successful for all subjects.

A month later, the specialists analyzed the condition of 8 patients and found that their pain level was significantly lower than before embolization (-58 mm on a visual analog scale), in addition, joint stiffness decreased and their physical function increased (-36.3 mm on the Osteoarthritis Severity Index of the Universities of Western Ontario and McMaster, WOMAC). In general, they observed an 80% improvement in vascular function compared to what it was before the procedure.

"Currently, the main way to treat arthritis is painkillers, the use of which is accompanied by side effects and risks," says Bangla. "Arterial embolization not only relieves people of the need to take opioids, but also avoids painful recovery after surgery."

This experiment is part of a large–scale international work dedicated to the fight against osteoarthritis. Radiologists have recruited another group of 20 people and plan to conduct a second randomized controlled clinical trial, the results of which will be announced in the summer of 2018.

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