3DMEDISPHERE/SHUTTERSTOCK
HEALTHY LIVING Knee Pain Relief Without Surgery
New outpatient procedure takes only 90 minutes. ::
BY CHRIS ILIADES, M.D. osteoarthritis, allowing some people A
to delay — or even avoid — total knee replacement surgery. Called genicular artery embolization
(GAE), the outpatient treatment targets abnormal blood vessels that contribute to inflammation and pain. The word genicular
refers to the knee, while embolization means blocking a blood vessel. First developed in Japan
about a decade ago, GAE is based on the discovery that abnormal blood
vessels that form in arthritic knees contribute
to pain and swelling. The procedure received
minimally invasive procedure may provide significant relief from the pain and swelling of knee
During the procedure, an interventional radiologist
inserts a thin catheter through an artery in the groin and guides it to the genicular arteries that supply the knee. Tiny abnormal blood vessels that develop as osteoarthritis progresses can fuel inflammation and pain. The radiologist injects microscopic beads through
Studies show that around 75% of patients get substantial and durable pain relief within a few weeks, which can last up to a couple of years.
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Breakthrough Devices designation in 2021. According to the University of Colorado
School of Medicine, about 70% of patients experience significant pain relief, with benefits lasting two to four years or longer. “When conservative treatment options stop
working, the next step has traditionally been total knee replacement — a major surgery some patients aren’t eligible for or want to avoid,” says Salim Abboud, M.D., an interventional
radiologist and assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. “GAE addresses this treatment gap by offering
a minimally invasive, joint-preserving option.” An outpatient procedure done under local
anesthesia and light sedation, GAE typically takes about 90 minutes. “The procedure is currently offered at many
academic centers, and availability is expanding as more physicians train in the technique,” explains Abboud.
90 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | OCTOBER 2026
the catheter to block blood flow to these vessels, causing them to shrink. “The best candidates are adults with knee osteoarthritis causing significant pain who’ve failed conservative treatments and who don’t want surgery, or want to delay it,” says Abboud. “Patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis tend to do better than patients with more severe changes of knee osteoarthritis or with more diffuse, widespread pain.” Total knee replacement is one
of the most common operations in the U.S., with more than 700,000 procedures performed each year. Osteoarthritis is by far the
leading reason for the surgery. Like GAE, knee replacement
is generally recommended for people whose pain persists despite medications, injections, or physical therapy.
Knee replacement is considered a safe and highly
effective procedure, with serious complications occurring in fewer than 2% of patients. Recovery typically involves wound care, pain management, blood clot prevention, and physical therapy, with most people returning to normal activities within three to six weeks. About 90% of modern knee replacements are still functioning well 15 years after surgery. Studies show that around 75% of patients get substantial and durable pain relief within a few weeks, which can last up to a couple of years. “The procedure can be repeated if pain returns,”
explains Abboud. Medicare and many private insurers now cover GAE
when a physician documents that the procedure is medically necessary. Researchers are also studying catheter-directed
embolization for other painful musculoskeletal conditions caused by abnormal blood vessels, according to Abboud. These include tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, and frozen shoulder.
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