Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

Genicular artery embolization

Genicular artery embolization, also called ‘geniculate artery embolization’, is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to treat knee arthritis pain and inflammation.

Studies have shown that this procedure delivers effective pain relief for knee arthritis and the benefits can be felt for an extended period of time. Improve quality of life along with these benefits:

  • Reduced swelling and inflammation

  • Improved range of motion

  • Faster recovery time and overall improvement in quality of life

What are the genicular arteries?

The genicular arteries are the two main blood vessels that supply blood to the knee joint.

genicular arteries in the knee

What happens during geniculate artery embolization?

The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis and takes about an hour to complete. Recovery times vary depending on the individual, but most people can expect to return to normal activity within a few weeks.

During the procedure, a small catheter is inserted into the genicular arteries and a balloon is inflated. This blocks off the flow of blood to the knee joint, which helps to reduce pain and inflammation.

What is the recovery like?

Recovery times vary depending on the individual, but most people can expect to return to normal activity within a few weeks.

Who is a candidate?

Candidates for geniculate artery embolization include those who have experienced pain and inflammation for more than 6 months and have not responded to other conservative treatments.