Dubai Hospital of Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has started the use of radionuclide therapy for the treatment of various chronic joint diseases. On Sunday, the DHA announced that it is the first time nuclear medicine is being used to treat chronic joint illnesses in the UAE as well as the Gulf region.

As part of the Radiosynovectomy, a small amount of a beta-emitting radionuclide (Y90) is injected into the affected joint area to deliver a minor radiation dose. It helps in reducing inflammation to provide long-term symptom relief to the patient. The radionuclides are injected in a specialised way to ensure that any other organs are not exposed to radiation.

The DHA explained that this method will help in reducing the swelling and pain in joints along with the restoration of normal function to the best extent possible.

Last week, Dubai Hospital doctors successfully treated a patient with traumatic joint disease using the state-of-the-art technology at the Dubai Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. The procedure was conducted under the supervision of Dr Batool Al Balooshi, head of the Nuclear Medicine Department; Dr Amro El Hennawy, Nuclear Medicine specialist and Dr Ahmed Abdel Moneim, consultant rheumatologist.

The procedure proved to be a success as the patient was given an injection in the knee joint. The DHA has further stressed that this modern technology is easy to implement and provides effective results.

Facilitating faster recovery, it is minimally invasive, cost effective and less risky than surgery. The procedure does not require hospitalisation and can be performed as an outpatient procedure at the Nuclear Medicine Department.

Earlier, a specialised team of medical representatives from the Dubai Centre for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the Department of Rheumatology at Dubai Hospital visited the largest centre for treatment of joint disorders using local injection of radioactive materials in Dusseldorf, Germany. The aim of the visit was to discuss the implementation of radionuclide therapy at Dubai Hospital along with benefits of the service for the patients.

The specialised team from the UAE included Dr Jamal Saleh, consultant and head of Department of Rheumatology and Medical Director of Dubai Hospital, Dr Al Balooshi, and Dr El Hennawy. Reportedly, Dr Al Balooshi has achieved her degree in Nuclear Medicine and radionuclide therapy from Munich, Germany.

It is important to note that the launch of the medical therapy at the Dubai Hospital is a part of the consistent efforts made by the DHA to enhance the emirate's medical field in line with global developments and to harness the potential of cutting-edge medical technologies and solutions.