What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Common treatments for knee replacement surgery, such as arthroscopic surgery and intra-articular injections, have specific side effects. Arthroscopic surgery can lead to transient knee joint pain, swelling, and, in rare cases, infection or deep venous thrombosis. Intra-articular injections, including glucocorticoids, may cause temporary pain at the injection site, swelling, and potential joint infection. Needle arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure, generally has fewer side effects, primarily limited to transient pain and swelling without the need for general anesthesia, reducing the risk of anesthesia-related complications.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

The FDA has approved various treatments and techniques for knee replacement surgery, including traditional arthroscopy and newer methods like needle arthroscopy. Needle arthroscopy, which uses a smaller nano-arthroscope for direct intra-articular visualization without the need for general anesthesia, represents a significant advancement. This technique allows for high-quality imaging and diagnosis of knee pathologies in a less invasive manner. While specific FDA approvals for needle arthroscopy tools like the NanoScope™ are not detailed in the provided context, the general approval of arthroscopic instruments and techniques supports its use in clinical practice.

What other types of research exist?

Promising alternatives to Needle Arthroscopy for knee replacement surgery patients include: 1) Advanced MRI techniques, which offer detailed imaging without invasive procedures. 2) Ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies, providing real-time visualization and diagnostic capabilities. 3) Combined arthroscopic and radiation synovectomy, which has shown stable improvement in knee function and pain relief. These methods offer high-quality visualization and diagnostic accuracy while minimizing patient discomfort and the need for general anesthesia.

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Procedure

Diagnostic Knee Needle Arthroscopy for Osteoarthritis

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Joseph P Zimmerman, MD

Research Sponsored by Albany Medical College

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up 1 day

Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial uses a tiny camera to look inside the knee without full anesthesia. It targets patients who need accurate diagnosis for knee replacement surgery. The camera helps doctors see the inside of the knee clearly, guiding them to choose the right type of surgery.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for men and women aged 18-89 who may need knee surgery due to osteoarthritis. Candidates should have unclear x-rays that don't clearly show if they need partial or total knee replacement, can understand English, and give informed consent. People with inflammatory arthritis, certain knee deformities or limited motion, and those under 18 or over 89 are excluded.

What is being tested?

The study tests a small camera called NanoScope™ for diagnosing knee problems without needing general anesthesia. It's used to decide whether patients with uncertain diagnoses should get partial (UKA) or total (TKA) knee replacements by directly viewing the joint in-office.

What are the potential side effects?

Potential side effects of using the NanoScope™ needle arthroscopy might include discomfort at the insertion site, bleeding, infection risk, and possible damage to surrounding structures within the knee due to its invasive nature.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ 1 day

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~1 day

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 1 day for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Visualization of unicompartmental or tricompartmental osteoarthritis

Trial Design

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Unicompartmental OA or equivocal findings in XRExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

After obtaining informed consent, patients will undergo needle arthroscopy, performed in the operating room prior to undergoing arthroplasty

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Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Needle arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique using a nano-arthroscope, provides high-quality intra-articular visualization without the need for general anesthesia. This method allows for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning while reducing the risks and costs associated with traditional arthroscopy. For knee replacement surgery patients, this means a safer, more cost-effective option with potentially quicker recovery times, enhancing overall patient outcomes.

To Resurface or Not to Resurface the Patella in Total Knee Arthroplasty, That Is the Question: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.A meta-analysis of minimally invasive and conventional medial parapatella approaches for primary total knee arthroplasty.Periarticular multimodal drug injection in total knee arthroplasty.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Arthrex, Inc.Industry Sponsor

45 Previous Clinical Trials

29,852 Total Patients Enrolled

Albany Medical CollegeLead Sponsor

92 Previous Clinical Trials

12,689 Total Patients Enrolled

Andrew D Posner, MDStudy DirectorAlbany Medical College

~27 spots leftby Sep 2025

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