Inflammatory synovitis in major joint replacement.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Inflammatory synovitis in major joint replacement and its relationship to clinical outcome
IRAS ID
179325
Contact name
Richard Field
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St Georges University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee are common conditions that can develop with advancing age. As the disease progresses, the smooth cartilage surfaces wear away. The affected joint becomes progressively stiffer and more painful.
In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), OA has conventionally been considered a wear and tear disease. However, recent medical research suggests that OA may involve a degree of inflammation within the joint which may make it more painful and hasten the need for surgery. At a cellular level, the role of immune cells and the messenger chemicals they produce is well established in the development of OA. Infiltration of these inflammatory cells is well described in early and advanced disease and the chemicals they release can aggravate the OA disease process. In the wake of recent successes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, attention is now turning to the possibility of using medical treatments to suppress the inflammation present in osteoarthritis and so delay or even reduce the need for joint replacement.
The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse the tissues removed during hip or knee replacement surgery in order to analyse them for inflammation. We will then look to see if patients who had inflamed tissues, at the time of operation, enjoy as much improvement as patients without inflamed tissues.
We plan to follow the progress of approximately 165 people undergoing a total hip or knee replacement. We will do this with questionnaires and clinic appointments at 3 months and 1 year after surgery.
REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0430
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion