More than 300 million people worldwide live with knee osteoarthritis symptoms that wear them down day after day. When your knees ache with every step, climbing stairs feels like scaling a mountain, and simple activities no longer feel simple, it’s natural to seek relief.
At Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, patients often ask us about options for tackling knee arthritis that don’t involve major surgery. One treatment that we’re excited about is genicular artery embolization, or GAE.
GAE is a minimally invasive procedure that can reduce knee pain with osteoarthritis. It doesn’t replace healthy habits, physical therapy, or orthopedic care, but for the right patient, it could offer meaningful relief.
GAE is an image-guided procedure that targets tiny blood vessels around your knee that contribute to inflammation. It treats abnormal vessels while preserving the healthy blood supply the knee still needs.
In osteoarthritis, abnormal blood vessels can grow in the joint lining. These vessels often travel with nerves, fuelling pain and swelling. GAE blocks selected abnormal vessels, calming inflammation and easing pain.
We perform GAE by guiding a very thin catheter (flexible tube) through an artery, usually from the groin or wrist area, toward the blood supply around the knee. Once the abnormal vessels appear on imaging, we inject tiny particles to reduce blood flow to those areas.
GAE can help adults with knee osteoarthritis who still have pain after trying conservative care. That usually means they’ve already been through options like:
Recent reviews describe GAE as a promising option for people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis pain, especially when at least several months of conservative treatment haven’t solved the problem.
GAE may also appeal to people who want to delay knee replacement or who aren’t good candidates for surgery. That said, GAE isn’t right for everyone. A thorough evaluation is vital because your symptoms, imaging, arthritis severity, circulation, and overall health all help determine whether this treatment is best for you.
Most patients have GAE as an outpatient procedure, so they return home the same day. The process typically takes about one to two hours. We provide specific instructions about activity, pain control, and follow-up visits.
We use imaging, including contrast-enhanced angiography, to map the blood vessels around your knee and identify any abnormalities. Mild sedation and local numbing medicine help keep you comfortable.
Because GAE doesn’t require a large incision, recovery is easier than recuperating from open surgery. Patients may need to rest for a short time afterward, but many return to normal routines much sooner than they would after a knee replacement.
The early and midterm results look encouraging. Studies have shown improvements in pain scores and function in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, with mostly minimal adverse effects reported over follow-up of up to two years.
A 2024 long-term study reported that GAE resulted in significant improvements in pain and knee-related function. That study also found no cases of osteonecrosis, which is a critical safety point.
However, it’s important to stay realistic. GAE is promising, but it’s still an evolving treatment. Experts continue to study which patients benefit most, how long relief lasts, and how GAE compares with other nonsurgical options.
No procedure is completely risk-free, and GAE is no exception. Reported side effects have typically been minimal, such as temporary skin discoloration, bruising, or soreness.
In the two-year GENESIS study, researchers reported a few minor complications, including self-limiting skin discoloration and a groin hematoma, as well as one case of deep-vein thrombosis related to immobilization.
Careful patient selection is necessary, so our experienced specialists review your symptoms, imaging, medical history, and treatment goals before recommending GAE.
Living with knee arthritis can make you feel older than you are. When pain keeps interrupting your sleep, exercise, work, or time with family, it’s worth asking about every appropriate option.
GAE offers a less invasive path to helping patients move more freely. If knee arthritis pain has limited your life and standard treatments haven’t helped enough, a consultation helps you learn whether genicular artery embolization fits your needs.
Call Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC to discuss GAE or complete the online inquiry form today.
