What is genicular arterial embolization?

Genicular arterial embolization is an innovative technique being evaluated as an additional—often complementary—method for relieving chronic pain following knee osteoarthritis. Available data suggest that genicular arterial embolization is a reasonable and safe additional option for pain relief, reducing the use of analgesic medications and injections and improving functional status.

Is genicular arterial embolization safe?

Side effects and complications after genicular arterial embolization for osteoarthritis of the knee are minor and transient and are often related to the embolization material used.

How long does genicular arterial embolization take?

The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours and the patient is discharged from the hospital 4 hours after the procedure is completed.

How effective is genicular arterial embolization?

The idea that genicular arterial embolization of hyperperfused intra-articular synovial tissue can reduce secondary knee pain was first demonstrated by surgeon Okuno and colleagues in Japan in 2014. In a trial of 14 patients, genicular arterial embolization of the knee artery reduced pain and disability for up to 19 months after treatment. In another trial of 72 patients (95 knees) treated with genicular arterial embolization in 2017, 86% of patients reported a pain reduction of at least 50% within months of the procedure. The effects of genicular arterial embolization have also been shown to last for up to two years in some patients.

Does genicular arterial embolization require anesthesia?

The genicular arterial embolization procedure is performed under mild sedation in the hospital’s interventional radiology suite.

Is genicular arterial embolization permanent?

IPM-CS embolization material, a crystalloid antibiotic mixture with transient embolic effects when diluted with contrast, is the most common choice for genicular arterial embolization for osteoarthritis of the knee outside the United States, with a particle size of approximately 10–70 microns. In addition to this mixture, other studies have used permanent particles in genicular arterial embolization, including Embozene microparticles (75–100 microns), Embospheres (100–300 microns), and polyvinyl alcohol (10–70 microns).