Are you suffering from moderate osteoarthritis of the knee?
12 March 2019
Mr Vikas Vedi, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Hip and Knee Specialist here at Spire Thames Valley Hospital offers the nSTRIDE autologous protein (APS) injection - a simple minimally invasive solution for patients suffering from moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.
The 20-minute procedure enables the inflammation caused by arthritis to be combated by injecting healthy proteins straight into the joint.
About 55ml of blood is taken from a vein in the patient’s arm, mixed with an anticoagulant and centrifuged at high speed for 15 minutes, causing the blood to separate into three layers – a yellow blood plasma; a red blood cell concentration and a ‘platelet-rich plasma’, a solution comprising platelet cells and some white blood cells The platelet-rich plasma is extracted and centrifuged again for an additional two minutes until surgeons end up with a 3ml protein liquid, which is then injected into the knee.
Patients may initially have side effects such as bruising pain or swelling but this should last no longer than 24-48 hours and within a week, your pain should be significantly reduced.
The main benefits of having this injection is that it should relieve your pain, reduce stiffness and help restore your mobility and comfort.
Mr Vedi says: “The intention is to provide a clinical improvement in the patients’ osteoarthritis as well as an improvement in their quality of life. The longer-term aim is that this will stop the need for key-hole surgery in patients with arthritis.”
Mr Vedi, was the first consultant to perform this procedure in the UK and now has exclusivity in the South of England, treating 160 patients to date. This is a walk-in, walk-out procedure, requiring no anaesthetic, costs £1,750 and patients should see benefits lasting for at least 12 months.
Mr Vikas Vedi is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Hip and Knee Specialist here at Spire Thames Valley Hospital. If you would like to learn more about any procedures or have any questions, please call us on 01753 665 404 or email us.
