Embolisation relieves pain in knee OA: early results
A single-arm trial of the investigational procedure in 40 patients is encouraging, researchers say
Genicular artery embolisation (GAE) provides long-term pain relief and improved function in adults with refractory knee osteoarthritis (OA), a single-arm study suggests.
GAE is a minimally invasive, image-guided interventional treatment to reduce OA knee pain by reducing the blood flow in the areas around the knee that are inflamed.
The procedure can be done in the outpatient clinic and takes 1-2 hours to complete.
Dr Siddharth Padia of UCLA Health, in Los Angeles, US, reported on 40 patients with knee OA who underwent embolisation after inadequate relief from more-conservative treatments, such as NSAIDs, joint injections and physiotherapy.
