Genicular Artery Embolization

An alternative to knee replacement surgery

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1 in 3 Americans over 60 have osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, and of those, 40% report bothersome symptoms. If you have experienced inflammation within your knee, you already know how painful it can be and how OA can get in the way of you living your life!

Total knee replacement surgery was once the only way to treat OA when it became severe. However, 2 out of 3 patients who qualify are unwilling to have this surgery,^1,2 perhaps because of the risks of surgery or the long, painful recovery and many weeks of physical therapy required to restore normal function.

What’s more, treating this chronic pain with a lifelong medication regimen or frequent pain injections is not a good option for many people.

Fortunately, there is another treatment: Genicular artery embolization (GAE)

Recently, new information has come to light about the causes of OA within the knee. A condition called synovitis is now accepted as a critical driver of OA. As bone cartilage breaks down, it releases debris into the synovium, the lining of the knee which produces fluid to nourish and lubricate the knee joint. The debris triggers an increase in the production of T-cell lymphocytes and white blood cells that inflame the synovium and eat away at the cartilage within the joint.

The FDA-approved GAE procedure works by restricting the flow of blood to the synovium, which in turn decreases inflammation and the associated pain. A clinical study performed in 2021 demonstrated that the average pain scores decreased from 8 out of 10 to 3 out of 10 within the first week of the procedure.³

Waiting reduces your treatment options

OA is a progressive condition, which means the problem will only get worse over time. When the cartilage is completely gone, surgery may be your only option. However, having a GAE procedure while you still have knee cartilage will not only alleviate the symptoms you’re experiencing but may help you avoid the need for surgery down the road.

The GAE procedure

GAE is performed by an interventional radiologist who inserts a tiny catheter into an artery in your upper thigh or wrist, and then uses imaging to guide it through the body’s blood vessels to the genicular arteries that supply blood to the synovium, where inflammation occurs. Tiny particles are injected through the catheter into the artery, reducing the flow of blood. This results in a significant reduction in the inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, and a reduction in pain.

GAE is one of the minimally invasive treatments available at Lakeland Vascular Institute. We perform GAE in our convenient outpatient center, with no general anesthesia required. In fact, you can resume most normal activities a few hours after the procedure. Most patients are surprised to find out how fast, easy and effective this procedure really is!