Almost 10% of the United States population has osteoarthritis, and up to 85% of them experience symptoms in their knees. Knee arthritis can make even simple activities, such as climbing stairs or going for a walk, feel like a challenge.
At Vascular Surgery Associates, with multiple offices in Maryland and Delaware, we understand how frustrating it can be when pain prevents you from living life to the fullest. The good news? You no longer have to rely solely on pain medications or wait until surgery is your only option.
Today, innovative, minimally invasive treatments like genicular artery embolization (GAE) are giving people new hope for lasting relief.
Knee osteoarthritis results from the breakdown of cartilage that protects the ends of your bones from wearing down. This breakdown leads to:
Over time, the joint may also alter shape.
There are several minimally invasive treatments available for knee arthritis, including:
Viscosupplementation involves injecting a gel-like substance, consisting of hyaluronic acid, directly into your knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a natural constituent of joint fluid, where it helps with lubrication and shock absorption.
In osteoarthritis, levels of this substance decrease, which makes movement more painful. By restoring lubrication, viscosupplementation can reduce friction, improve joint movement, and make daily activities more comfortable.
PRP uses a small sample of your blood, which is spun in a special machine to separate and concentrate the platelets. Growth factors in these platelets help repair damaged tissue and reduce inflammation.
When injected into the knee, PRP can stimulate healing in the cartilage and surrounding tissues, potentially improving mobility and decreasing pain. This approach is appealing because it utilizes your body’s natural healing ability rather than medications.
During RA, your provider guides a thin probe to the nerves around your knee that send pain signals to your brain. Using radiofrequency energy, the probe generates heat to disrupt these nerves, reducing or even eliminating pain for months at a time.
Radiofrequency ablation doesn’t treat the underlying arthritis. However, it may provide significant pain relief, allowing you to move more easily and participate in physical therapy with less discomfort.
Genicular artery embolization targets the source of inflammation in the knee. The genicular arteries are blood vessels that supply the synovium — the thin lining inside your knee joint. In people with knee osteoarthritis, these vessels can send blood to inflamed areas, worsening pain.
During GAE, we use imaging guidance to carefully insert a catheter into the genicular arteries and release tiny particles that reduce blood flow to the inflamed tissue.
Because GAE targets small blood vessels, precision is critical. At Vascular Surgery Associates, our specialists have advanced training in navigating delicate arteries, ensuring the procedure is as safe and effective as possible.
Patients choose GAE because it offers:
GAE is ideal for individuals who aren’t ready for or cannot undergo knee replacement surgery.
Many patients notice they can walk farther and do more with less discomfort after GAE.
GAE doesn’t require large incisions, causes less pain, enables a shorter recovery time, and reduces the risk of complications compared to surgery.
Studies show that many people experience months to years of symptom relief after GAE.
GAE is typically an outpatient procedure. Here’s what you can expect:
You receive local anesthesia and mild sedation to keep you comfortable. We make a tiny incision in your groin or wrist to insert a thin catheter (flexible tube), then, using X-ray imaging, we guide it to the genicular arteries in your knee. Finally, we release tiny particles to reduce blood flow to the inflamed tissue.
You can return home the same day and engage in light activities within a few days. Most patients notice improvement within weeks, with continued benefits over the following months.
If you’re living with knee arthritis and struggling to find relief, you don’t have to wait for things to get worse. Genicular artery embolization could be the game-changing solution you’ve been looking for, especially if you want to stay active and avoid major surgery.
At Vascular Surgery Associates, we help you explore your options and design a treatment plan that puts you back in control of your mobility and comfort. Contact us by phone to learn how you could benefit from GAE or use our online form to submit your inquiry today.
