01 / Everyday movement
Everyday movement
Walking, stairs or standing for longer periods are becoming uncomfortable. Bring examples of what you would like to do more easily.
Could Arthrosamid be right for your knee?
If knee osteoarthritis is still affecting daily life despite treatment, Arthrosamid may be an option to explore. An assessment helps establish whether it suits your knee and your goals.
Prepare with questionnaire
A starting point for discussion; suitability is confirmed in consultation.
RECOGNISE YOUR STARTING POINT
Skip to the assessment ↓Your knee. Your everyday life.
02 / Your care so far
Your care so far
You have tried appropriate exercise, physiotherapy or other care, but symptoms persist. Your clinician will review what you have tried and discuss the next options.
03 / Understanding your choices
Understanding your choices
You are considering an injection and want to understand how it works, what it involves and where it fits into your wider treatment plan.
01 / 03
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FIVE PARTS. ONE PERSONAL PLAN.
How we reach a recommendation
We bring your symptoms, scans and goals together to explain which options fit your knee.
01
Symptoms
Where it hurts, how long it has troubled you and what limits your day.
02
Scans & examination
The pattern of osteoarthritis and other possible causes of pain.
03
Previous care
What you have tried and how your knee responded.
04
Health & medicines
Your medical history, medicines and any infection concerns.
05
Your goals
The activities and priorities you want your care to support.
YOUR KNEE · YOUR GOALS
Your personal recommendation
A clear explanation of your options and what happens next.
BEHIND YOUR RECOMMENDATION
The detail behind your assessment
Your scans and previous care
Recent X-rays and, where available, MRI help us assess the stage and pattern of wear, alignment and other possible sources of pain. Tell us which treatments you have tried and what changed: physiotherapy, activity modification and simple pain relief remain important foundations.
Your health, medicines and goals
We review medicines and medical conditions, including anticoagulation, diabetes control, immunosuppression and recent infection. These may change the treatment plan or timing. Your examples of pain, limitations and goals help us judge whether the likely benefit matches what matters to you.
Where Arthrosamid may fit
Ongoing symptoms from knee osteoarthritis
For adults with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, Arthrosamid may be considered when symptoms continue despite appropriate conservative care. If your pain and stiffness are limiting your daily life and you are looking for a non-surgical option to help manage these symptoms, your assessment will help establish whether it fits your needs.
A different cause or a different priority
Another cause of knee pain may require entirely different treatment. Advanced joint changes, marked deformity, or instability may prompt a discussion about surgery instead. Additionally, any active infection needs addressing before an injection can be safely considered.
THE WHOLE PICTURE
What makes treatment worth discussing?
A diagnosis, your everyday experience and a shared understanding of treatment.01 / Your knee
Diagnosed knee osteoarthritis
A clinical diagnosis supported by recent imaging (X-ray or MRI). The diagnosis matters because Arthrosamid® is licensed and evidence-based specifically for osteoarthritis, not general knee pain.
Stage and pattern of wear
Stage is considered alongside symptoms, alignment, stability and function. The observational evidence does not turn a wear grade into an individual response prediction.
02 / Your everyday life
Symptoms despite conservative treatment
You have tried activity modification, physiotherapy and simple pain relief, and symptoms continue to limit daily activity. Arthrosamid® is generally not a first-line option.
Has considered surgical and non-surgical alternatives
Arthrosamid may be discussed as symptom management, but it has not been proved to delay knee replacement. Significant pain, deformity or loss of function may make surgical assessment more appropriate.
Clear expectations.
Carefully planned care.Assessment → Treatment → Follow-up
Carefully planned care.Assessment → Treatment → Follow-up
03 / Your treatment plan
Realistic expectations
Understanding that Arthrosamid® is intended for symptom management, not as a cure or cartilage-regeneration treatment. The observational cohort reports group outcomes through 24 months, not a guaranteed response or duration.
Willing to accept the safety protocol
Comfortable with our conservative protocol including ultrasound-guidance, IV antibiotic cover and the six-week follow-up. Skipping safety steps to save cost is not an option we offer.
WHEN WE PAUSE AND PLAN
Some factors need extra care
Some factors call for extra planning; active infection is a reason to defer treatment. We review each of the following before recommending a pathway.
Advanced bone-on-bone arthritis
End-stage osteoarthritis where the joint surface has been substantially lost. Arthrosamid® may give some relief but the underlying disease may progress to needing knee replacement.
Active infection
Any active infection, in the joint or systemically, is a reason to defer Arthrosamid®. We treat the infection first.
Poorly controlled diabetes
Raised HbA1c increases infection risk for any joint injection. We may ask you to optimise control before scheduling.
Immunosuppression or high infection risk
Patients on immunosuppressive therapy or with conditions that raise systemic infection risk warrant a tailored discussion.
Unrealistic expectations
Patients who expect Arthrosamid® to cure their arthritis, regenerate cartilage or guarantee permanent relief are not good candidates — the treatment cannot deliver any of those things.
Unwillingness to accept the protocol
A clinic-specific safety protocol that includes IV antibiotics, sterile technique and six-week follow-up is non-negotiable at London Cartilage Clinic. If these steps are a concern, discuss other treatment options with the team.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PATH
Bone-on-bone arthritis and advanced osteoarthritis
Bone-on-bone arthritis needs an individual assessment. A hydrogel acting on the joint lining cannot replace lost joint surfaces. Imaging, pain, alignment, stability and daily function help determine whether an injection or a knee-replacement opinion is more appropriate.
In these cases, the better answer is often a knee replacement conversation. We will say so honestly. Read more on the Arthrosamid® vs knee replacement comparison.
Where the disease is moderate but advancing, Arthrosamid® may still be appropriate as a symptom-management option. It is not proved to delay surgery. Imaging and clinical assessment help decide whether an injection or replacement opinion is the more appropriate discussion.
Make the most of your consultation
The assessment brings together your medical history, imaging, and personal goals to provide a clear explanation of your options. Coming prepared helps us focus on what matters most.
Prepare before your consultation
- Recent scan reports or images, if available
- A list of current medicines and previous treatments
- Examples of activities affected and questions you have
Prepare with our suitability questionnaire
A starting point for discussion; it does not replace a clinical assessment.
Take the Arthrosamid® suitability self-assessment
This short questionnaire organises relevant questions before assessment. It does not diagnose osteoarthritis, apply group evidence as an individual prediction or confirm suitability. Use it to prepare for a clinical conversation.
Suitability FAQs
Do I need a confirmed diagnosis?
Understanding the cause of your pain comes first. The clinician will review your history, examine your knee, and consider relevant imaging (submit existing scans through the patient portal before consultation; the clinic will advise if more are needed).
Can I discuss other treatments too?
Yes. Your consultation should consider the options that fit your knee and goals, including ongoing non-operative care and surgery where appropriate.
Will the questionnaire tell me if I qualify?
It helps organise your information and history for your appointment. It does not replace a clinical assessment, provide a medical diagnosis, or confirm definitive suitability for treatment.
Who is the ideal candidate for Arthrosamid®?
The ideal candidate is an adult with a clinical and imaging diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, ongoing symptoms despite appropriate conservative treatment, realistic expectations and no contraindication. Current imaging, stage, alternatives and willingness to accept the product-specific safety protocol all form part of the decision.
Can I have Arthrosamid® if I have bone-on-bone arthritis?
That description does not predict whether Arthrosamid will work. Advanced disease, deformity, instability or major functional loss should prompt a balanced knee-replacement assessment. We review imaging and the clinical picture rather than using one label alone.
Can I have Arthrosamid® if I have diabetes?
Well-controlled diabetes is not a contraindication, but poorly controlled diabetes raises the infection risk for any joint injection. We will review HbA1c and recent control as part of the assessment, and may ask you to optimise control before scheduling treatment.
Can I have Arthrosamid® if I am on blood thinners?
Treatment may be possible, but the decision depends on the medicine, why it was prescribed and your bleeding and clotting risks. Do not stop it yourself. We review this at consultation and may ask the prescribing clinician to advise on peri-procedure management.
What if my suitability self-assessment score is borderline?
A borderline score on the Arthrosamid® suitability self-assessment is one of the reasons we offer a free discovery call before committing to a consultation. The questionnaire is a decision-support tool, not a final answer; the consultation is where the clinical decision is made.
Will you tell me honestly if I am not a good candidate?
Yes. We do not recommend Arthrosamid® where the indication is absent, a contraindication is present or another treatment is more appropriate. See the Arthrosamid® safety page for the broader picture.
Continue exploring
Learn more about what to expect from treatment, dive into the research, or see how it compares to other options.
Recovery & aftercare
Understand the recovery timeline and returning to activity.
Research & results
Explore published evidence and patient outcomes.
Arthrosamid
vs
PRP
Arthrosamid vs PRP
Compare approaches to help guide your decision.
Ready for your next step?
Talk through your symptoms, goals, and treatment options with the team.