Knee osteoarthritis affects 22.9% of people over 40 worldwide. It’s a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life because of the musculoskeletal pain and functional limitations it causes.
Persistent knee pain and stiffness make it harder to walk, climb stairs, stand for long periods, exercise, or complete everyday tasks without help. Over time, you may find yourself avoiding many activities you previously managed without a second thought.
At Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, we offer genicular artery embolization (GAE) as a minimally invasive treatment for certain people with knee osteoarthritis. GAE reduces pain by targeting the abnormal blood vessels associated with inflammation inside your knee and helps you move more comfortably.
Osteoarthritis causes changes in the tissues within your knee joint. Inflammation can contribute to pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness, particularly when you move or put weight on the joint.
As knee pain increases, you may start changing how you live. You might take the elevator instead of the stairs, avoid longer walks, stop gardening, or rely on someone else to run errands. Even getting out of a chair or walking across a parking lot can become difficult.
Reduced activity also affects muscle strength and physical fitness. This can create a frustrating cycle: your knee hurts, so you move less but moving less weakens muscles, making everyday physical tasks harder.
Researchers have linked knee osteoarthritis with the development of small blood vessels in inflamed tissue around the joint. These abnormal vessels can contribute to the pain associated with osteoarthritis.
GAE targets this process without removing or replacing any part of your knee. During the procedure, we guide a thin catheter through an artery toward the blood vessels supplying the painful area of your knee. We then release tiny particles that reduce blood flow through the abnormal vessels.
The goal is to decrease inflammation and pain while preserving the normal blood supply to your knee.
GAE doesn’t rebuild worn cartilage or reverse osteoarthritis. Instead, treatment aims to control one of the factors contributing to knee pain.
When your pain improves, everyday movement should become easier. You’ll find it more comfortable to:
These improvements can have an important effect on independence. Being able to move without so much discomfort means relying less on family members, mobility aids, or changes to your usual routine.
Research into GAE continues to develop, but some studies have reported meaningful improvements in pain and physical function after treatment, including better walking and chair-standing performance.
However, GAE won’t provide the same degree of relief for everyone. That’s why we consider each case carefully before recommending GAE.
For some people, knee replacement surgery isn’t necessary yet, isn’t medically appropriate, or isn’t a treatment they want to pursue. GAE provides a nonsurgical approach that doesn’t require an incision into the knee joint.
Because we perform the procedure through a small catheter, recovery generally involves less disruption than major joint surgery. Although every medical procedure carries potential risks, GAE studies have reported mostly minor, short-lived side effects.
A faster recovery matters when maintaining independence is already a concern. The aim isn’t simply to reduce a number on a pain scale — we want treatment to translate into meaningful improvements in what you can comfortably do.
GAE doesn’t suit everyone with knee pain. We need to determine what’s causing your symptoms, how advanced your osteoarthritis is, and what treatments you’ve already tried.
You may benefit from an evaluation if osteoarthritis continues to limit your mobility despite treatments like:
We can assess your knee symptoms and determine whether genicular artery embolization provides an appropriate next step.
If knee osteoarthritis has started limiting your independence and everyday activities, learn how you can benefit from GAE by calling Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, or schedule a consultation online.
