Osteoarthritis is joint pain and inflammation due to wear and tear of the cartilage and bone in the joint. The knee is one of the most common joints affected by osteoarthritis.
Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a minimally-invasive treatment for knee pain from osteoarthritis. GAE helps people avoid or delay surgery. It decreases pain by blocking inflamed blood vessels around the knee.
What is Genicular Artery Embolization?
You will be given medication to relax you. The skin on your wrist or top of the thigh will be cleaned and numbed. The clinician will slide a small tube through a pinhole in the skin into a blood vessel. X-rays and dye will guide them as they move the tube to the blood vessels around your knee. Special material is then injected through the small tube into the blood vessel to stop blood from flowing through it. The tube is removed, and a dressing placed over the pinhole where the tube entered your skin.
How is Genicular Artery Embolization done?
Genicular Artery Embolization
1. After numbing the skin, the clinician threads a small tube into the blood vessel at the top of the thigh or wrist.
2. The clinician uses x-rays and dye to guide the tube to the painful vessels around the knee. They inject special material to block those vessels.
3. After, the clinician removes the tube and places a bandage over the pinhole in the skin.
What are the risks?
Genicular artery embolization is generally a safe procedure when done by a specialist.
7-11 in 100 people experience
temporary skin changes
skin wound around the knee. This usually resolves on its own.
1 in 100 people experience
bleeding
temporary numbness/tingling in the foot/toes.
What are the alternatives?
Your options will depend upon your preference, overall health and unique conditions. Often a combination of the following options can be used.
Alternative 1 Pain medicines treat chronic joint pain for many people. However, these medicines may not control the pain adequately. Strong pain medicines such as opiates can be addictive.
Alternative 2 Physical therapy. Some joint pain can be reduced with physical therapy to strengthen muscles and reduce scar tissue.
Alternative 3 Acupuncture may provide relief in some people.
Alternative 4 Steroid injections directly into the joint can reduce inflammation and pain. The pain may return, requiring additional injections. This is often tried prior to more invasive options.
Alternative 5 Surgery to repair parts of the joint or replace the joint. Joint replacement can be very effective in many people. Surgery requires a longer recovery. Some people cannot tolerate surgery due to other health issues.