Minimally Invasive Procedure Offers New Hope for Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

A study presented at this year’s Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting sheds light on genicular artery embolization (GAE), a minimally invasive treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Researchers report that GAE can significantly reduce knee pain and improve quality of life, potentially reducing the need for joint replacement surgery.

New Findings on an Innovative Treatment

Led by Dr. Florian Nima Fleckenstein, an interventional radiologist at Charité – University Hospital Berlin, the study analyzed 403 patients aged 40 to 90 with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis who had not responded to conservative therapies, such as physical therapy or steroid injections.

GAE involves injecting tiny particles into selected branches of the genicular arteries to block blood flow to the affected areas of the knee. This disrupts the cycle of inflammation, cartilage damage, and abnormal nerve growth that drives osteoarthritis progression. The retrospective study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of GAE over time, using standardized tools such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).

The results were compelling: one year after the procedure, patients reported an average 87% improvement in quality-of-life scores and a 71% reduction in pain. The procedure achieved a 100% technical success rate, with only minor side effects such as temporary skin discoloration or mild knee pain occurring in 18% of cases. No severe complications were observed.

Why It Matters

Knee osteoarthritis affects over 365 million adults worldwide and is the leading cause of chronic pain and disability in aging populations. Current treatments, such as pain medication and steroid injections, only provide temporary relief without addressing the underlying disease. As the condition worsens, patients often turn to knee replacement surgery, a costly and invasive option.

GAE offers a minimally invasive alternative, particularly for patients in the early stages of the disease. "Our study found that GAE can effectively reduce knee pain and improve quality of life early after the treatment, with these benefits being maintained over the long term," said Dr. Fleckenstein.

Importantly, the study highlights GAE's potential to delay or prevent disease progression in early-stage osteoarthritis, reducing the need for more invasive interventions like surgery.

The Road Ahead

The researchers hope their findings will encourage broader adoption of GAE as an early intervention for knee osteoarthritis. They emphasize the procedure’s potential to lower healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes worldwide. "GAE has the potential to reduce the need for more invasive surgeries, lower healthcare costs and significantly improve the quality of life for countless individuals suffering from knee osteoarthritis," Dr. Fleckenstein said.

Looking ahead, Dr. Fleckenstein and his team plan to expand their research into other degenerative joint disorders to develop additional interventional radiology options for patients with chronic pain.