Nano technology to lower joint treatment costs

A National Chung Cheng University (CCU) research program has created a technique of using micro-nano testing to detect aging knee joints in the early stage 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 perform treatment at its early and moderate stage using minimally invasive procedures. Thanks to this, 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 cost of prescribing non-steroid anti-inflammation drugs for patients suffering from osteoarthritis reached NT$2.3 billion (US$71.23 million) a... [read full story]                    

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