Key Points
- Researchers in Japan recently published clinical trial results using focused ultrasound to treat patients with knee pain secondary to chronic osteoarthritis.
- The group applied ablative thermal treatment to the site of most severe tenderness around the medial femorotibial joint.
- Most participants (73.7%) had significant reductions in pain in the 12 months following treatment.
Researchers at Kochi Medical School in Japan led by Dr. Motohiro Kawasaki recently published data from their clinical trial using focused ultrasound to treat 20 patients who experienced knee pain secondary to chronic osteoarthritis. The group used the Insightec Exablate 2100 conformal bone system to apply ablative thermal treatment (at 55 degrees Celsius) to the site of most severe tenderness around the medial femorotibial joint of each participant. Using several rating scales and index scores, most participants (73.7%) had significant reductions in pain in the 12 months following treatment, and there were no focused ultrasound—related adverse effects. The group concluded that focused ultrasound was effective for managing refractory pain and improving physical function in elderly patients with medial knee osteoarthritis. This study was funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
See the International Journal of Hyperthermia (IJH) >
This article is part of IJH’s special issue on focused ultrasound. See the Special Issue >