Mild symptoms that are settling
Temporary soreness, stiffness or swelling can occur. Follow your written aftercare and contact the team if you are unsure.
Read the recovery guide →PREVENTION, PREPARATION & SUPPORT
Arthrosamid infection prevention & antibiotics
Understand the precautions before treatment, our IV antibiotic protocol and the symptoms that need prompt advice afterwards.
Already had treatment? Find advice ↓THE LCC PATHWAY
- 01Assess your kneeHistory, imaging, medicines & allergies
- 02Prepare carefullyIV antibiotics & sterile technique
- 03Guide the injectionUltrasound-guided treatment
- 04Stay supportedWritten aftercare & follow-up
AFTER TREATMENT
A settling flare or a reason to seek help?
Increasing or severe symptoms
Worsening pain, progressive swelling, a hot or red knee, wound discharge, fever, chills or feeling unwell need prompt medical advice. Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent same-day assessment.
NHS advice on joint infection →01 / YOUR SAFETY
Why infection needs particular care
Arthrosamid is non-absorbable and intended to remain in the joint. If infection occurs, it can be difficult to eradicate and may require prolonged treatment or surgery. This makes prevention, informed consent and a clear plan for warning symptoms important parts of the decision.
Treatment starts with assessment of your knee, imaging, medicines and medical history. Active infection or other clinical concerns can mean postponing treatment or choosing a different option.
02 / YOUR SAFETY
IV antibiotics at London Cartilage Clinic
All Arthrosamid injections at London Cartilage Clinic include intravenous (IV) antibiotics before the injection. This is part of our documented local protocol, alongside sterile preparation, ultrasound guidance and written aftercare.
Product requirements
Manufacturer professional information requires prophylactic antibiotic cover and sets out intended use and contraindications. It is manufacturer-owned product information.
Your individual plan
Our clinician reviews allergies, previous reactions, interactions and medical history, then confirms the drug, dose and timing. The IV route described here is the clinic’s local practice.
Published evidence, product precautions and your medical history inform the plan. These measures reduce avoidable risk but cannot guarantee prevention or demonstrate superiority over another provider.
03 / YOUR SAFETY
Questions to settle before treatment
Tell the team about antibiotic allergies, previous reactions, current medicines and any recent infection. Do not stop or change prescribed medicines yourself.
IV antibiotics are standard at this clinic. If you are uncomfortable with them, discuss the reason and the alternatives before booking; the treating clinician must decide whether it is safe to proceed. This page does not recommend substituting oral antibiotics or changing a prescribed regimen.
Before leaving, make sure you have your written instructions, the clinic contact route and a six-week follow-up plan. Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent same-day assessment rather than waiting for routine review.
04 / YOUR SAFETY
What to ask about your care
- Assessment and imagingConfirm your diagnosis, imaging review, previous care and alternatives before committing to an injection. A provider should explain when treatment is unsuitable.
- The treating clinicianAsk who assesses you and who injects, their relevant experience and how any treatment-volume figure is defined and dated.
- Guidance and infection precautionsAsk about real-time ultrasound, sterile preparation and the antibiotic route, timing and allergy checks. No precaution eliminates risk.
- Support after treatmentConfirm the review appointment, contact details for a flare, urgent escalation route and any additional fees.
- Realistic claimsBe cautious about guaranteed relief, permanent cures, cartilage regeneration or promises to prevent surgery. Ask for published evidence in the right clinical context.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Common questions, clear answers
How common is infection after an Arthrosamid® injection?
Joint infection is a recognised serious complication of an intra-articular injection. This page does not quote an incidence figure because available data and definitions do not justify a precise clinic-specific estimate. Prevention and a clear action plan matter, but no protocol eliminates risk.
Why does London Cartilage Clinic use IV antibiotics for Arthrosamid®?
Arthrosamid is non-absorbable and intended to remain in the joint, which can make a serious complication difficult to manage. Manufacturer professional information requires prophylactic antibiotics. London Cartilage Clinic's documented local protocol uses intravenous antibiotic cover and sterile-field preparation; this cannot make infection risk zero.
Can I have oral antibiotics instead of IV?
London Cartilage Clinic's protocol uses intravenous antibiotic cover. Allergies, interactions, previous reactions and other clinical reasons are reviewed before treatment. The treating clinician decides whether it is safe to proceed; the protocol should not be altered by a webpage.
What happens if I develop infection symptoms after the injection?
A mild temporary flare can occur, but worsening pain, progressive swelling, heat, redness, wound discharge, fever, chills or feeling systemically unwell needs prompt medical advice. Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms require urgent same-day assessment. Use the clinic contact route supplied in your written aftercare; seek NHS urgent care or A&E when needed.
Does the infection risk go up with more boxes of Arthrosamid®?
There is no reliable box-by-box estimate of infection risk on which to base an individual prediction. Manufacturer professional information describes a 6 ml knee injection. The treating clinician must confirm the plan, indication and product-specific precautions before treatment.
How long am I followed up after an Arthrosamid® injection?
We follow patients clinically at six weeks as standard, with a direct line for any questions in between. Onward physiotherapy guidance is included where helpful. Patients who travel from outside London are followed up by phone or video where in-person review is impractical.
Explore related guides
Detailed information on suitability, research, and recovery to help you prepare for your consultation.
Suitability & Assessment
Could Arthrosamid be right for your knee? How the clinic approaches treatment recommendations.
Research & Results
The research behind the treatment, including the 24-month prospective cohort study.
Recovery & Aftercare
Your recovery, one step at a time. Milestones, activity guidelines, and when to seek advice.