Each year, millions of individuals are diagnosed with arthritis and seek help for the associated pain. Many patients are being told that medication, surgery, and injections are the only options for relief, but that is not true at all. One treatment that has seen success for knee pain, in particular, is geniculate artery embolization. While the name sounds a little scary, this procedure has provided patients with relief without costly, painful surgery. In this blog, we will discuss what geniculate artery embolization is, how it helps alleviate pain, as well as the associated benefits of this procedure.
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What is Geniculate Artery Embolization?
Geniculate artery embolization, or GAE, is a minimally invasive procedure used to provide immediate, long-term pain relief for patients. The procedure works by targeting inflamed arteries by blocking and reducing blood flow to the problem areas. This procedure works very well with knee pain since the knee contains 8 assessable arteries.
Results of Geniculate Artery Embolization
In a study done by Okuno Clinic, doctors assessed 72 patients who suffered from osteoarthritis and proceed with GAE. Following treatment, patients were observed over the course of 1, 3, and 6 months to view short-term results. Patients were then invited back after 2,3, and 4 years to examine the long-term effects of the procedure. Following the completion of the Okuno Clinic study, 79.8% of the patients resulted in clinical success.
Benefits
- Long-lasting Results
- GAE has a 78% success rate in relieving knee pain for 2 to 3 years or longer.
- Non-surgical
- This non-surgical option provides long-lasting results. The recovery period following the procedure is relatively quick since there are incisions or stitches that will need to heal.
- Highly effective in reducing pain
- In the Okuno study mentioned before, 86% of the patients in the study reported that their pain was reduced by more than 50% within 6 months of having the procedure. These patients were able to reduce or stop their pain medication use at the 6-month mark as well due to the success of the procedure.
New Technique Provides New Treatment Options
Geniculate Artery Embolization is a new technique that is providing longer-lasting results for patients suffering from knee pain and osteoarthritis. The team at Cutting Edge Pain specializes in providing effective, non-invasive treatment options for various areas of pain. If you’re currently experiencing pain and would like to learn more about other treatment options, contact our office today.
