Genicular Artery Embolization
An alternative to knee replacement surgery
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.
What is GAE?
The FDA-approved GAE procedure restricts blood flow to the synovium, decreasing 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 only reduces your treatment options!
OA is a progressive condition, meaning the problem will only worsen 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.
Book a consult in Roanoke, VA, National Harbor, MD or Rockville, MD!
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 blood flow. 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 National Vascular Physicians. 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!
Is GAE Right For Me?
Genicular artery embolization is recommended if you:
- Are between 40-80 years of age
- Have moderate to severe knee pain
- Are diagnosed with osteoarthritis based on X-ray or other imaging, but without bony deformity/sclerosis
- Experience local knee tenderness
- Do not wish to have total knee replacement surgery
If you feel that you may qualify for this procedure, please call us to arrange a consultation. We will work directly with your doctor to help determine if GAE is right for you.
To schedule your consultation with National Vascular Physicians, please call (301) 276-5670.
- Hawker G.A., Guan J., Croxford R., Coyte P.C., Glazier R.H., Harvey B.J., et al. A prospective population-based study of the predictors of undergoing total joint arthroplasty. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:3212–3220. doi: 10.1002/art.22146. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
- Hawker G.A., Wright J.G., Badley E.M., Coyte P.C. Perceptions of, and willingness to consider, total joint arthroplasty in a population-based cohort of individuals with disabling hip and knee arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51:635–641. doi: 10.1002/art.20524. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
- https://www.sirweb.org/media-and-pubs/media/news-release-archive/sir-2021-knee-pain-031621/
