Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease causing pain, stiffness, and swelling in the knee. It occurs when the cartilage cushioning the knee joint breaks down, making it difficult to move and causing discomfort. While there’s no cure, various treatments can help manage pain and improve mobility.

Diagnosing knee osteoarthritis usually involves a few key steps:

• Medical History: Your doctor will ask about your symptoms (pain, stiffness, swelling), when they started, and any past injuries.
• Physical Exam: Your doctor will check your knee’s range of motion, look for swelling or tenderness, and watch you walk. They may also test your knee’s stability.
• X-rays: These images show your bones and can reveal narrowing of the joint space, a sign of osteoarthritis. They primarily show bone, but can indirectly indicate cartilage loss.
• MRI: These scans provide more detailed images of bones and soft tissues (cartilage, ligaments, tendons) and may be used to assess cartilage damage or rule out other problems.
• Joint Aspiration (sometimes): Fluid is removed from the knee joint with a needle and tested for inflammation or infection. This helps differentiate between types of arthritis.

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is an innovative, minimally invasive treatment that targets knee pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint condition that affects millions of people, leading to chronic pain, inflammation, and limited mobility. GAE is designed to reduce inflammation in the knee by blocking specific blood vessels (genicular arteries) that are responsible for contributing to the pain and inflammation. This procedure offers an alternative option for patients who have persistent knee pain despite conservative treatments, but who may not be ready for or are looking to delay knee replacement surgery.

GAE may be an option for patients who:

• Have chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis that has not responded to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, medications, or injections.
• Are not candidates for or do not wish to undergo knee replacement surgery.
• Experience significant knee pain that interferes with daily activities.

The following conditions may disqualify a patient as a candidate for GAE:

• Good candidate for knee replacement surgery
• Current or previous history of cigarette smoking
• Infection or malignancy

This outpatient procedure usually takes 1 to 2 hours after which patients can go home the same day. During the GAE procedure:

• Numbing medication and twilight sedation are used to keep you comfortable.
• A small incision is made in the groin to access your artery.
• Using X-ray guidance, a catheter is placed in the small arteries supplying the knee.
• Tiny particles are injected to block the abnormal blood flow, reducing inflammation and pain.

Recovery is relatively quick, and patients typically experience pain relief within days to weeks following the procedure.