New minimally invasive knee pain treatment now available for Mid West at St John of God Geraldton Hospital

Mid West residents suffering from knee pain now have access to a new, minimally invasive treatment at St John of God Geraldton Hospital. The procedure, known as radiofrequency ablation, is by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Aman Singh and offers another option for people managing arthritis or injury-related knee pain. RFA uses controlled heat to target the nerves around the knee that send pain signals to the brain. The treatment, carried out under local anaesthetic, usually takes less than an hour and is typically done as a day procedure. Dr Singh said demand for joint care was increasing as more people experienced wear and tear with age. “Many people are not yet ready for a joint replacement but also want to avoid relying on high doses of medication to manage pain,” Dr Singh said. “Radiofrequency ablation provides another option that may help some people manage knee pain associated with arthritis.” Hospital chief executive officer Phillip Balmer said offering the procedure locally meant patients could receive care closer to home and get on with their day-to-day activities with minimal interruption. “Better management of knee pain can support people to remain active, which in turn may help slow the progression of arthritis and delay the need for joint replacement surgery,” he said. RFA may be suitable for people with knee arthritis not ready for joint replacement or those seeking non-opioid pain management. Assessments are available through Midwest Orthopaedics at St John of God Geraldton Hospital with a GP referral.