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A new research project should lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis by enabling doctors to identify the condition even before a patient shows any overt clinical symptoms. 

The project has been undertaken by University College London (UCL), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) and involves using a new technique to screen for the condition. The technique, known as spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS), was developed at STFC’s Central Laser Facility (CLF) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. The technique involves shining a laser through the skin to analyse the chemistry of the underlying bone and has the potential to provide new information about whether a patient is more prone to developing the condition.

Researchers carried out a series of tests on two types of human bone samples – some with osteoarthritis and some matched controls without osteoarthritis(1). Using the Raman laser technique the research found noticeable differences in the bone matrix chemistry at the knee joint of the two sample groups, revealing that the initial changes may be found in the bone and this could be used to identify some patients who may have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis long before the condition has manifested itself as severe cartilage damage and joint degeneration.

The other benefits of using the Raman technique are that it provides information on both the mineral and organic components of bone, and also does not use any ionising radiation. So with this technology the patients are not subjected to the radiation that normal X-ray techniques would expose them to.

Professor Allen Goodship, Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, UCL, commented: “We are at an early stage in this exciting project but we are already seeing some promising results that should help improve our knowledge about how osteoarthritis develops. Raman spectroscopy can give us detailed information about the make-up of the bones that we cannot get using traditional X-rays. It is quite possible that in the future the Raman technique could be effective as a screening tool to help identify patients who may be at risk of developing the condition. By identifying the disease earlier, healthcare professionals can recommend lifestyle changes that may help slow the progress of the disease.”

Professor Tony Parker, who has just returned to STFC from scanning patients and volunteers at RNOH, adds “It is incredible how swiftly the project is moving forward from laboratory to impact in just 10 years, as my father keeps telling me “old age doesn’t come alone” and the application of new technology to support our health is something we can all be proud of in STFC.”

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK and typically affects the knee, hip and spine joints. It is estimated that around 1 million people see their GP about osteoarthritis every year(2). For many, the condition can be debilitating and significantly affect their quality of life.

The project has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) with a grant of £1.7m.

ENDS

To talk to the STFC laser team please contact Jake Gilmore, Media Manager, jake.gilmore@stfc.ac.uk or 07970994586.

To talk with the RNOH team please contact 0207 478 7802 and speak with Kelly Mortlock, Peter Stilwell or Jack Storry or emailRNOHComms@grayling.com. 

1. 10 human bone samples taken from patients with osteoarthritis were compared against 10 bone samples from people without osteoarthritis
2. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Osteoarthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx< /em>