TAIPEI: A National Chung Cheng University (CCU) research program has created a technique utilizing micro-nano testing to detect early-stage problems in aging knee joints in an effort to reduce the high cost and medical burden of treating osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease.

With the new invention, physicians will be able to identify the source of the chronic disease and provide treatment at the condition's early and moderate stage, using minimally-invasive procedures.

Thanks to this innovation, the more invasive procedure of replacement arthroplasty can be limited, according to a CCU statement.

Citing statistics released by the Bureau of National Health Insurance in 2002, the university pointed out that the annual cost of prescribing non-steroid anti-inflammation drugs for patients suffering from osteoarthritis had reached NT$2.3 billion ($71.23 million).

Apart from that, there had been nearly 12,000 osteoarthritis patients who had undergone surgery to have their afflicted knee joints replaced with artificial ones every year. The cost of the medical treatment amounted to NT$1.7 billion, the statistics showed.

In total, Taiwan spent NT$4 billion in one year in treating the disease, the statement said.

In cooperation with the Joint Center of Buddhist Tzu Chi Dalin General Hospital in Chiayi County, CCU researchers found that most OA cases could be easily controlled with a cheaper, minimally-invasive procedure, CCU said.

According to the statement, the research program combined major breakthroughs of two sub-research projects, with the first one conducted by a research team headed by Jeng Yeau-jen, CCU vice president and a professor at the CCU Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Jeng's team has succeeded in using a nano-indentation measurement technique to identify pathological changes of the articular cartilage.

In the other project, initiated by Professor Chau Lai-kwan at the CCU Department of Biochemistry, the researchers have used fiber-optic localized plasmon resonance sensors to measure the degree of pathology in an aging knee.

With the research results, the CCU-Tzu Chi hospital joint venture has developed a comprehensive health care model for OA patients, using micro-nano scale testing measurement, computer simulation modeling and biochemical methods to offer improved OA-targeted treatment services and increase the recovery rate, the CCU statement said.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 10/14/2009 page2)