Soon, a jab that can help grow a new knee
LONDON: Coming soon, jab that will let arthritis sufferers grow a new knee or hip joints, say British scientists.

A team, led by Newcastle University , claims the injection will "revolutionize" the treatment of osteoarthritis, the most common form of the condition -- in fact, given in a person's 40s or 50s, just as arthritis begins, the jab could remove the need for hip or knee replacements in some cases.

Andrew McCaskie at Newcastle University said, "Every patient has their own 'repair kit' . Whereas joint replacement uses metal and plastic to replace the severely damaged joint, we're trying to treat at an earlier stage and assist the body to repair itself."

Arthritis is caused by wear and tear of cartilage that helps our joints take the strain of bending , lifting, gripping and kneeling . With no cure, painkillers and physiotherapy are the main forms of treatment. Joint replacement surgery can help, but it is a complicated and not successful in all cases.

The new technique, which could be in use within five years, will harness the power of stem cells -- "master cells" that can turn into other cell types --in patients who are still in their prime.