Tell us about allergies
We review medication allergies, particularly penicillin allergy, alongside your medicines and medical history.
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Knee osteoarthritis · Non-surgical option
Hydrogel Injections
Specialist assessment and ultrasound-guided hydrogel injection for suitable knee osteoarthritis presentations.
Find the right appointment
Knee OAAssessment firstUltrasoundImage-guided procedureBalanced choiceAlternatives discussed
About the service
Hydrogel injections, including Arthrosamid®, are available following a dedicated clinical assessment and shared decision-making process.
Hydrogel is one of several non-surgical options that may be considered for knee osteoarthritis. Arthrosamid® is a permanent, non-absorbable implant rather than a cure, and suitability cannot be decided from an X-ray grade or product preference alone.
Suitability is considered using your symptoms, examination, imaging and previous management.
Expected benefits, uncertainty, alternatives, costs and aftercare are discussed before any procedure is booked.
The injection is performed under ultrasound guidance within a governed clinical pathway.
Common reasons to book
Knee osteoarthritisPersistent activity-limiting knee painPeople exploring non-surgical optionsClinician referrals
Arthrosamid® · Patient information
More comfortable movement.
A longer-term option.
Arthrosamid® is a non-absorbable injectable hydrogel designed to reduce the symptoms of adult knee osteoarthritis. For the right person, it offers a different way to pursue less pain, easier movement and greater confidence in everyday activity after a proper assessment and balanced discussion of the alternatives.
Required timing1 to 2hours before the injection
Required before treatment
Antibiotics are part of every Arthrosamid® procedure.
The manufacturer states that Arthrosamid® must be administered with prophylactic antibiotics. These are taken as a single pre-treatment dose 1 to 2 hours before the injection so that adequate antibiotic levels are present at the time of the procedure.
Follow your individual instructions
Your prescribing clinician will confirm the appropriate antibiotic choice, dose and exact timing. Do not use someone else’s antibiotics or alter the instructions yourself.
Contact us if the dose is missed
If you have not taken the antibiotics, take them at the wrong time, feel unwell or develop a reaction, contact the clinic before travelling. The procedure may need to be delayed.
97.5%Water
2.5%Cross-linked polyacrylamide
What makes it different
Designed to remain in the joint and support lasting symptom relief.
After injection, the hydrogel distributes through the joint fluid and integrates with the synovial tissue lining the knee. It is a permanent, non-biodegradable and non-absorbable implant. Its aim is symptom relief: it does not regrow cartilage, reverse osteoarthritis or guarantee that surgery will never be required.
- Purpose
- Reduce knee osteoarthritis symptoms
- Format
- One 6 ml intra-articular injection
- Decision
- Made after assessment, not from an X-ray alone
When it may enter the conversation
A considered option when knee OA is still holding life back.
It may be discussed when pain and loss of function remain important despite appropriate rehabilitation or previous care. The goal is not simply a lower pain score. It is to create a better opportunity for walking, stairs, exercise and the activities that matter to you.
- Symptomatic adult knee osteoarthritis
- Persistent impact on function or quality of life
- Realistic expectations and willingness to continue rehabilitation
When it should not be injected
Product contraindications form part of every assessment.
- Active skin disease or infection at or near the injection site
- An infected or severely inflamed knee joint
- A previous non-absorbable injectable or implant in the knee
- A knee replacement or other foreign material in the joint
- Knee arthroscopy within the previous six months
- Haemophilia or uncontrolled anticoagulant treatment
This is not a complete medical suitability check. Your medication, allergies, general health and other clinical factors are reviewed before a procedure is offered.
The treatment pathway
Assessment first.
Injection only if appropriate.
Confirm the diagnosis
We review your symptoms, examination, imaging, medical history, previous care and what you want to return to.
Prepare safely
If Arthrosamid® is selected, the required antibiotic cover is confirmed in advance and taken exactly as directed 1 to 2 hours before the injection.
Guide the injection
At Beaches, the 6 ml injection is placed into the knee joint under ultrasound guidance using a sterile technique.
Recover and review
Activity is modified initially, rehabilitation continues and we review your response rather than judging the result immediately.
What to expect
Give the knee time to respond.
Some people notice change sooner, but the maximum benefit may take approximately four to twelve weeks. Mild-to-moderate joint pain or a sensation of swelling can occur and may last from days to weeks. Individual outcomes vary, and your knee may improve, remain unchanged or worsen.
Strenuous activity is reduced initially. Rehabilitation, strength and sensible activity progression remain part of the plan.
Contact us urgently
Know which changes are not routine.
A knee that becomes increasingly painful, hot, red or markedly swollen requires urgent clinical assessment. The same applies to fever or feeling unwell after an injection. Contact Beaches promptly and use urgent medical services when appropriate.
Because Arthrosamid® is a permanent implant, tell clinicians involved in future knee treatment and major surgical or dental procedures that it is present.
A positive signal in younger patients
Close to 80% reported a positive response.
In a manufacturer-reported subgroup of 63 patients aged under 70, close to 80% improved from baseline in WOMAC pain following Arthrosamid® treatment.
That is encouraging, but it is subgroup data held by the manufacturer. It is not a guaranteed individual outcome and not proof that age predicts response. People aged 70 and over can still be considered after assessment.
Under 70 subgroupN=63
Evidence and uncertainty
Encouraging results.
Honest expectations.
Published studies support the potential for meaningful and sustained improvement. Longer follow-up is one reason Arthrosamid® may be considered, while study design, participant numbers and uncertainty still matter.
Comparable with hyaluronic acid at one year
A 239-person randomised controlled trial found a single iPAAG injection non-inferior to hyaluronic acid for WOMAC pain, with no statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes.
Device-related effects were reported more often with iPAAG than HA (28.9% versus 7.6%); those reported were mild or moderate, with no serious device effects.
Read the published studyImprovement was sustained in a five-year cohort
A prospective study began with 49 participants; 35 entered the extension and 27 completed five-year follow-up. Average improvements in pain, stiffness and function were sustained in the study cohort.
This was a small, open-label extension without a control group beyond the initial study period. It supports possible durability, not a promise of five years of benefit for every patient.
Read the five-year studyArthrosamid® treats symptoms; it has not been shown to cure osteoarthritis, regrow cartilage or remove the possibility of future surgery. The clinical recommendation remains separate from cost or finance arrangements.
Take the information away
Manufacturer patient resources.
These documents provide additional procedure and product information. They support your Beaches assessment and consent discussion, but do not replace it.
Interactive knee guide
Does hydrogel belong in the conversation?
See how hydrogel sits alongside steroid, hyaluronic acid, KioMedine® and the option not to inject.
The team
Who provides this service?
Questions
Before you book.
Why is a separate assessment required?
Arthrosamid® is a permanent implant. We need to confirm that knee osteoarthritis is the likely source of symptoms, review contraindications and medical factors, and compare rehabilitation, other injections and onward referral before a procedure is offered.
Do I need antibiotics before an Arthrosamid injection?
Yes. The manufacturer states that Arthrosamid® must be administered with prophylactic antibiotics. Your prescribing clinician will confirm the appropriate antibiotic choice and dose, which must be taken exactly as directed 1 to 2 hours before the injection. Tell us about all medication allergies and contact the clinic if the dose is missed or taken at the wrong time.
Can both knees be treated?
Both knees may be considered, but each knee requires its own clinical assessment. Procedures are normally staged so the first knee's response can be reviewed before deciding whether to treat the second.
Do I need to tell other healthcare professionals?
Yes. Because the hydrogel remains in the knee, tell healthcare professionals involved in future knee treatment and any major surgical or dental procedure that you have an Arthrosamid® implant.
Is it guaranteed to avoid surgery?
No. Response varies and no injection can guarantee that future surgery will not be needed.