Knee Osteoarthritis

What is Knee Osteoarthritis?

• Arthritis, a term encompassing joint inflammation, is a common ailment as we age. Among its various forms, Osteoarthritis stands out as the most prevalent type. It primarily affects weight-bearing joints such as the hands, knees, and hips.

Who is at risk?

• Several factors increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis, including:

  • Increased age
  • Excess weight
  • Joint trauma resulting from repetitive motions like squatting or kneeling

What does the research say?

• Embolization for knee osteoarthritis (geniculate artery embolization) is successful in decreasing pain and improving function for patients with knee osteoarthritis

Symptoms Of Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis can manifest through a range of symptoms, which often include:

• Pain: Discomfort experienced at rest or during movement.
• Stiffness: Notable upon waking or following inactivity.
• Joint Tenderness
• Reduced Flexibility and Range of Motion
• Swelling
• Decreased Mobility, leading to a reduced quality of life

Genicular artery embolization, or GAE for short, offers a promising solution for knee osteoarthritis. This minimally invasive procedure utilizes a small catheter inserted either through a vessel in the wrist or via a pin-hole-sized hole in the groin. Employing cutting-edge imaging technology, the catheter is precisely positioned in the genicular artery branches that supply blood to the knee joint. Tiny medical beads are then employed to block these vessels, resulting in reduced inflammation of the joint. This outpatient treatment typically lasts around 1 hour.

Proven Results

Numerous studies have demonstrated that Genicular Artery Embolization effectively reduces pain and enhances functionality for a majority of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. This non-surgical approach offers renewed hope for improved quality of life.

Other Treatment Options

While Genicular Artery Embolization is a groundbreaking treatment option, there are alternative approaches available:

Surgical Treatments

• Knee replacement

Medical Treatments

• Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications
• Hot/cold packs
• Knee joint steroid or stem cell injections

Assistive Devices

• Canes, splints, walkers