The first-ever shock absorber for patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA) has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before resorting to total joint replacement. This shock absorber is beneficial for those patients who experience pain interference with routine activities and are ineligible for or reluctant to undertake surgical procedures due to old age or lack of progressive OA.

This novel shock absorber lessens a portion of the weight-bearing load on the knee joint, thus relieving pain and sustaining function. The apparatus is inserted subcutaneously through an outpatient-compatible technique. This approval was founded on data from an open-label cohort study that compared the implantable shock absorber to high tibial osteotomy in 81 people (aged 25 to 65 years) with OA of the medial knee. Suitable patients comprised of people whose activity was restricted by pain in the knee, who had unsuccessful therapies (for example, injections, braces) and who had radiographic evidence of OA.

As per the results of the study, the implantable shock absorber was found to be superior to high tibial osteotomy, representing improvements in pain relief (Western Ontario and McMasters University Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC] pain score), function (WOMAC function score), and safety. Recovery time after the procedure (described as full weight-bearing without backing devices) was described to be four times faster with the use of shock absorber as compared to the surgical procedure.