A long-term study by Mylène Jansen of UMC Utrecht, published in March 2022, has confirmed that knee distraction therapy offers sustained benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Even 10 years after treatment, patients still show significant improvement in cartilage thickness compared to their pre-treatment condition.

Knee distraction is a joint-preserving treatment that temporarily unloads the knee joint, giving it time to regenerate. Devices like ArthroSave’s KneeReviver have made this approach clinically viable by facilitating a six-week period of mechanical joint unloading. Previous studies had already shown that cartilage thickness improves significantly at 1 and 2 years post-treatment. While some reduction occurs after five years, the cartilage remains measurably thicker even a decade later.

This research provides compelling evidence that knee distraction can induce long-lasting structural regeneration in osteoarthritic knees—something previously thought unattainable without joint replacement. By delaying or avoiding total knee arthroplasty, knee distraction may also help prevent complex revision surgeries later in life.

These findings reinforce the role of knee distraction as a powerful alternative for younger patients or those aiming to preserve their natural joint for as long as possible. With growing attention on joint-preserving strategies and increasing cases of osteoarthritis due to aging and obesity, such innovations are more relevant than ever.

This study strengthens the scientific foundation for knee distraction and supports its wider implementation in clinical practice.