Knee osteoarthritis is a significant problem affecting around 25% of people over 50. Knee pain from osteoarthritis influences every aspect of daily life. When medication, physical therapy, injections, and activity changes don’t provide enough relief, many people worry that surgery is their only option.
At Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, we offer genicular artery embolization (GAE) as a minimally invasive alternative for knee osteoarthritis pain. GAE doesn’t replace the knee joint or require large incisions. Instead, we use advanced imaging and tiny medical tools to reduce abnormal blood flow linked to inflammation and pain in the knee.
Before we recommend GAE, we perform a diagnostic consultation to understand your symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. We ask:
During this visit, we review your medications, allergies, and overall health. We want to make sure GAE fits your needs and that you understand its benefits, limitations, and potential risks. We also review imaging studies, like X-rays or MRI scans, to better understand your knee joint. Here’s what happens next if you go ahead with GAE.
We believe you should feel informed before any procedure, so we explain how we access the blood vessels and target the inflamed areas around the knee. You also receive instructions before your appointment. These include guidance about:
Since every patient has different health needs, we tailor these instructions to you.
On the day of the procedure, our team helps you get comfortable and reviews your information again. We check your vital signs, confirm your medical history, and answer any last-minute questions.
Patients typically stay awake during GAE, but we may offer light sedation to help you relax.
You lie on a procedure table, and we clean the skin near the access site. Most often, we use a small artery in the groin or wrist to insert a slender, flexible tube called a catheter. We numb the area with local anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Once the area is numb, we make a very small puncture in your skin. Through that opening, we insert the catheter into the artery. The catheter stays inside the blood vessel, which doesn’t have pain nerves like the ones in your skin. You might sense pressure at the access site, but you shouldn’t feel the catheter moving through your artery.
We use real-time X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy) to guide the catheter toward the blood vessels that supply the painful area of your knee. Next, we inject a special contrast dye through the catheter to help us see the blood vessels clearly on imaging.
We identify tiny abnormal vessels around the inflamed knee tissue that contribute to inflammation and pain signals. We want to reduce that abnormal blood flow while protecting healthy circulation to the knee. You may feel a brief warm sensation when we inject the contrast dye, but that feeling usually passes quickly.
After we identify the right vessels, we inject tiny particles through the catheter. These particles reduce blood flow to the inflamed tissue around the knee.
After treatment, we remove the catheter and apply pressure to the access site to help prevent bleeding. In some cases, we use a small closure device, but you won’t need stitches for the tiny puncture site. We place a bandage over the area and move you to the recovery room.
Most GAE procedures take about one to two hours, though the timing can vary. Afterward, you rest while our team checks your blood pressure, pulse, access site, and comfort level.
Most patients go home the same day. You need someone to drive you, especially if you received sedation.
Recovery after GAE usually feels easier than recovery after surgery. You may notice some soreness, bruising, or mild swelling near the access site. Some people also feel temporary knee discomfort as the treated tissue responds.
We recommend taking it easy for a few days. You should avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, or soaking in a bath until the access site heals.
Pain relief doesn’t always happen overnight. Some patients notice improvement within a few weeks, while others improve more gradually over several months. We follow your progress and help you understand what changes to expect.
To learn whether GAE fits your symptoms and goals, call Vascular Surgery Associates, LLC, or contact us today via the online inquiry form.
