Knee pain affects millions of people every day, leading to a lower quality of life and issues with mobility. Treatments for knee pain largely depend upon the root cause of the problem. For those suffering with pain due to bone marrow lesions, one option that is proven to work is subchondroplasty.
So, what is subchondroplasty for the treatment of knee pain? Learn everything you need to know below…
What is subchondroplasty?
Subchondroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that aims to fill in subchondral bone defects. It is a fluoroscopically assisted procedure that uses AccuFill®Bone substitute material (BSM) to fill in the gaps.
The procedure tends to be carried out alongside an arthroscopy. This helps to both visualise and treat the problems discovered in the joint. The Accufill BSM hardens and creates new bone as the body heals.
Those who undergo a subchondroplasty report a reduction in pain and an improvement in quality of life. Having the procedure also doesn’t impact your ability to have further surgery if it is needed.
What types of knee pain will subchondroplasty help?
Subchondroplasty can treat subchondral bone defects which may occur due to osteoarthritis for example. Over time, conditions such as osteoarthritis can wear down the cartilage and bone. Not only is this extremely painful, but it can also lead to a loss of mobility.
A previous study has shown that subchondroplasty can also be highly effective at treating bone marrow lesions. The study also showed that the procedure could reduce pain and prevent the need for a total arthroplasty at the follow up stage.
Whenever the pain is caused by the bones, and not the tissue of the joint, subchondroplasty can help. As it is an outpatient procedure, patients can usually leave on the same day. It is provided via an injection into the bone, making it a minimally invasive procedure.
Seeking a diagnosis for knee pain
If you are experiencing any type of knee pain, it’s important to get to the root cause of it. If left untreated, knee pain can worsen, and you may start to lose function in the joint. This can limit your quality of life, preventing you from moving around and putting you at greater risk of other health problems.
To find out what might be causing your knee pain, contact Mr Shah Punwar today. Mr Punwar is a specialist in knee pain and he can determine the cause of your discomfort and the right treatment for you.
Soon, Mr Shah Punwar will be offering subchondroplasty treatment (Zimmer Biomet method), but he can discuss all of your treatment options that would give you the best results. It may be that a knee replacement is the best way to treat your knee pain permanently.
