Am I Suitable for Arthrosamid®? Who Can Have the Injection

If knee arthritis is making everyday activities painful, and you’re hoping to avoid or delay knee replacement surgery, you may be wondering whether Arthrosamid® could help.

Many people consider Arthrosamid® after physiotherapy, exercise, pain relief medication or steroid injections have no longer provided enough benefit, but before they feel ready to consider surgery.

Arthrosamid® is licensed for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and can provide long-lasting pain relief for carefully selected patients.

However, it isn’t suitable for everyone. The best way to find out if Arthrosamid® is right for you is through a specialist assessment.

This usually includes reviewing your symptoms, examining your knee, and looking at an X-ray or MRI scan taken within the last 12 months, to confirm that your knee osteoarthritis is suitable for treatment.

This guide explains who is most likely to benefit from Arthrosamid®, who may not be suitable, what you’ll need before your appointment, and what to expect during your assessment, helping you decide whether it’s the right next step in managing your knee arthritis.

Key takeaways

• This treatment is for knee osteoarthritis. Suitable for people with knee pain and swelling that affects everyday activities like walking, doing stairs, running, golf, tennis etc. It is currently licensed for the knee joint only.
• Try conservative measures first. We generally advise physiotherapy, weight management, sometimes orthotics and appropriate footwear before having an Arthrosamid® injection.
• There are other injections that you may be advised to try first, such as steroid and/or hyaluronic acid.
• Some conditions rule this option out. Inflammatory arthritis, active infection, a previous knee replacement, bleeding disorders and a few others mean it isn’t always appropriate.
• You’ll usually need recent imaging. An X-ray or MRI of the knee within the last 12 months is normally requested.
• A clinical specialist at Complete Physio will confirm your suitability - and there’s also an online medical screening and consent process required before booking.

Who is a good candidate for Arthrosamid®?

Arthrosamid® is suitable for people with osteoarthritis of the knee who are experiencing pain and swelling that may affect daily activities such as walking, running, doing stairs, and those wanting to continue being active.

In practice, it’s often the right option for people with mild-to-moderate, and into more advanced, knee osteoarthritis, particularly once shorter-acting injections like steroid or hyaluronic acid are no longer giving lasting relief, but a knee replacement still feels premature or undesirable.

It can suit a wide range of people; from those in their 40s with pain behind the kneecap, to people in their 50s and 60s with wear on the inner knee joint, through to older, less active people who simply want to keep walking and stay independent.

You don’t have to be sporty to benefit. It can also be used to “buy time” and build strength before a planned knee replacement.

Often suitable if you…

• have knee osteoarthritis with pain and swelling affecting your daily life
• have tried conservative measures (physio, weight management) without enough relief
• find that shorter-acting injections are no longer lasting
• aren’t ready or suitable to have knee replacement surgery
• have had recent knee imaging (X-ray or MRI) confirming knee osteoarthritis

For the fuller picture, see our Arthrosamid® pillar guide.

Who should not have Arthrosamid®?

Arthrosamid® isn’t suitable for everyone. It’s licensed for the knee only, and a number of conditions mean it isn’t appropriate.

It is generally not suitable if you…

• have inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid, psoriatic) or gout
• have an active infection in or around the knee
• have had a previous knee replacement or other implant in the joint
• have a bleeding disorder (e.g. haemophilia) or uncontrolled blood-thinning
• have had knee keyhole surgery (arthroscopy) within ~6 months
• are pregnant or breastfeeding, or under 18
• have a known sensitivity to polyacrylamide

It’s also not used for very severe, “bone-on-bone” arthritis where a knee replacement is likely to be the more effective option, nor for other joints such as the hip, shoulder or ankle. Arthrosamid® is currently a knee treatment only.

If you take a blood-thinning medicine such as Warfarin, you may need a blood test or a conversation with your GP or clinician beforehand, because of the small risk of bleeding into the joint.

Should I try other treatments first?

Generally, yes. We usually advise trying non-invasive approaches before considering any injection.

That means giving conservative measures a fair go first - rehabilitation and physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around the knee, weight management, and supportive aids like knee braces, orthotics and appropriate footwear.

These can make a real difference and are always worthwhile; and even if you do go on to have Arthrosamid®, strengthening work improves and prolongs the result, so it’s never wasted.

If conservative care isn’t controlling your symptoms, that’s often the point at which a knee injection becomes a sensible next step.

What do I need before I can book?

Before booking an Arthrosamid® injection, two things usually need to be in place first - a recent X-ray and/or MRI image and a full clinical assessment.

• Recent imaging. We normally request that you’ve had an X-ray or MRI scan of the knee within the last 12 months, so we can confirm the osteoarthritis and check if the joint is suitable.
• A specialist conversation. We recommend speaking with one of our clinical specialists first; they may suggest an assessment to make sure your knee is right for Arthrosamid®.
• Online medical screening and consent. Before an appointment is confirmed, you’ll complete our online medical screening and consent form. This ensures you’ve been medically screened and have the information you need to make an informed decision.

Once screened, we’ll contact you to discuss anything that comes up and arrange an appointment if appropriate.

If you’re waiting for a knee replacement, please note that Arthrosamid® should not be given within six months of the date of your surgery; because it’s classed as an implant, having it too close to the operation could increase infection risk or interfere with healing.

How does the assessment work?

The assessment is there to confirm Arthrosamid® is the right choice for your knee, and to rule out anything that would make it unsuitable.

A clinical specialist will review your history and any imaging, examine the knee, and talk through what you’ve already tried and what your goals are.

On the day of any injection, the clinician also uses diagnostic ultrasound to assess the joint and check for excess fluid, which can be drained first if needed.

This combination of screening, imaging review and on-the-day ultrasound is how we make sure each person who has Arthrosamid® is genuinely suited to it, rather than treating first and hoping.

Our specialist clinicians were among the first in the UK to offer Arthrosamid®, so you’re assessed by people who are highly experienced and know exactly who it does and doesn’t help.

What if I’m not suitable for Arthrosamid®?

If Arthrosamid® isn’t right for you, that’s useful information, and it doesn’t mean there’s nothing that can help.

Depending on what the assessment finds, a more appropriate option might be a steroid injection for shorter-term relief, a hyaluronic acid or PRP injection, a focus on physiotherapy and conservative care, or, for very advanced arthritis, a conversation about whether surgery is the better path.

The point of the assessment is to match you to the treatment most likely to help meet your goals, not simply to deliver one product.

Our broader injections for knee pain page sets out the alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Arthrosamid® suitable for?

People with knee osteoarthritis who have pain and swelling affecting daily activities such as walking, going upstairs or continuing with their chosen hobbies - it is only usually an appropriate option after trying conservative measures like physiotherapy, or other injection therapies. It is licensed for the knee only and suitability is confirmed only after a full assessment.

Who can’t have an Arthrosamid® injection?

It’s generally not suitable if you have inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, or gout), an active knee infection, a previous knee replacement or implant, a bleeding disorder, recent knee surgery, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are under 18, or have a sensitivity to polyacrylamide.

Do I need a scan before having Arthrosamid®?

Usually yes, we will normally request an X-ray or MRI of the knee within the last 12 months, so we can confirm the osteoarthritis and check if the joint is suitable. Please bring any recent imaging to your appointment.

Can I have Arthrosamid® if I’m waiting for a knee replacement?

Yes, as long as you have the Arthrosamid® injection at least 6 months before your planned knee replacement surgery. Because it’s classed as an implant, having it too close to the operation could increase infection risk or interfere with healing. It can, however, be used earlier to buy time and build strength.

Do I need a GP referral?

A referral from your GP isn’t required. You’ll complete an online medical screening and consent form before booking, and we provide a report after the procedure that you can pass to your GP or consultant for your records.

Can I have Arthrosamid® in a joint other than the knee?

No, Arthrosamid® is currently licensed for the knee only. Other joints are being researched, but for now it isn’t used in the hip, shoulder or ankle. We can advise on alternatives for other joints.

Find out if Arthrosamid® is right for you

The only way to know for sure is an assessment - a look at your knee, a review of any imaging, and an honest answer either way. Our specialist clinicians were among the first in the UK to offer Arthrosamid®.

Learn about our Arthrosamid® service → | Book an assessment | Call 020 4634 5760 or email injections@complete-physio.co.uk

Sources & References

• Complete Injections - Arthrosamid® injections service and patient screening information.
• NHS - Osteoarthritis (overview and treatment)
• Arthrosamid® / Contura (manufacturer)
• Bliddal, H., Beier, J., Hartkopp, A. and Conaghan, P., 2024. 3 YEAR FOLLOW-UP FROM A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF INTRA-ARTICULAR POLYACRYLAMIDE HYDROGEL INJECTION IN SUBJECTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 32(6), pp.770-771.
• Bliddal, Henning et al. “A prospective, open-label, clinical investigation of a single intra-articular polyacrylamide hydrogel injection in participants with knee osteoarthritis: a 5-year extension study.” Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research vol. 21,1 43. 12 Dec. 2025

Last updated: June 2026.
This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for individual medical advice. Whether Arthrosamid® is suitable for you depends on a clinical assessment of your knee.