The VENUS clinical trial for persistent knee pain is underway at OrthoIndy in Indianapolis.
Here are five key notes:
1. There are 10 sites for the trial nationwide and OrthoIndy is the only site in Indiana. The VENUS clinical trial investigates Active Implants' investigational meniscus implant for persistent knee pain from injury or deteriorating meniscus cartilage.
2. The study is enrolling around 130 patients in the United States, Europe and Israel for a randomized trial. The patients will receive either the NUsurface device or nonsurgical treatment.
3. The implant is medical-grade plastic and doesn't require bone or soft tissue fixation. The device mimics natural meniscus function and redistributes loads transmitted across the knee joint. Physicians insert it through a small incision.
4. The NUsurface procedure is an outpatient surgery and patients typically undergo a six-week rehabilitation program after the operation. The device has been used in Europe since 2008 and Israel since 2011.
5. Jack Farr, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with OrthoIndy and he hopes the implant will help delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.