Genicular Artery Embolization for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease and knee OA accounts for more than 80% of the total OA burden. Standard treatment options include lifestyle modifications, pharmacologic agents, nonsurgical interventions, and surgery. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a novel, minimally invasive procedure that has thus far yielded promising results in the palliation of mild-to-moderate knee OA pain. Initial studies have demonstrated GAE to be a safe and effective procedure that could potentially address this treatment gap. This review article provides an overview of OA as well as current understanding of the role of GAE in treatment of knee OA pain.