Knee Arthritis and Geniculate Artery Embolization
Knee Arthritis
Knee Arthritis or Osteoarthritis is a condition caused by repetitive wear and tear of the knee joint. Damage to the cartilage results in ongoing inflammation. Inflammation causes tiny new blood vessels and nerves to grow within the knee joint.
Geniculate Artery Embolization (GAE)
Geniculate Artery Embolization is a procedure that injects microscopic beads into the areas with abnormal blood vessels. This shrinks the abnormal blood vessels and associated pain and inflammation.
Why Geniculate Artery Embolization (GAE)?
Geniculate Artery Embolization is useful to relieve knee pain from osteoarthritis instead of taking frequent medication or getting injections into the knee. It can also be beneficial in those who are not ready to have knee replacement surgery. Published clinical studies by our team have demonstrated that GAE can provide pain relief without the risks associated with chronic medication or repeat injections.
GAE is not necessarily a substitute for total knee replacement. GAE has not been shown to negatively impact future knee replacement surgery when performed with our technique.
How is genicular artery embolization reshaping our clinical approach to patients with chronic knee pain?
Dr. Rachel Piechowiak and Dr. Faraz Khan, interventional radiologists at IR Centers join Dr. Don Garbett in a deep dive into the current state of Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE).
How is Geniculate Artery Embolization (GAE) Performed?
Geniculate artery embolization is performed by an Interventional Radiology physician. A small puncture is made with a needle into a blood vessel at the top of the leg. A tiny plastic tube called a microcatheter is placed into the blood vessels that supply the inflamed part of the knee. Microscopic beads are injected into the areas with abnormal blood vessels. This reduces excess blood flow causing pain and swelling. Normal blood flow to the knee and its surrounding tissues remains intact after the procedure. The procedure is performed under a ‘twilight sleep’ and is relatively painless.
Advantages of GAE
- No surgical incision or injection into the knee joint
- Painless procedure lasting about one hour
- Typically return to work within a day or two. No lengthy recovery period
- Knee pain usually improves in 1-3 weeks
- Very low complication rate
- No effect on future knee replacement
