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- Non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment effectively relieves pain both immediately and in the long term.
- Patients usually return home the same day after a brief postoperative observation after having undergone genicular artery embolization or GAE.
- By reducing inflammation, researchers found they could relieve or even eliminate pain associated with arthritis.
Arthritis is one of the leading causes of joint pain in people around the world. Nonetheless, there may be a promising non-surgical procedure that could provide pain relief for at least 12 months.
Researchers at UCLA Health investigated a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment option for arthritis that effectively relieves pain both immediately and over the long term.
Using a technique called genicular artery embolization, or GAE, doctors can relieve arthritis pain in the knees within hours of the procedure.
Arthritis is pain and swelling in the joints of the body after the cartilage is damaged from overuse. It causes stiffness, immobility and discomfort, which usually get worse with age.
When the cartilage wears down, inflammatory enzymes are released, causing joint pain.
And with over 100 types of arthritis, it is one of the most common conditions in people.
Genicular artery embolization is an outpatient procedure designed to limit inflammatory enzymes. The GAE takes about 1 to 2 hours to complete, and patients usually go home the same day after a short postoperative observation.
During this procedure, a small catheter is directed from the groin to the blood vessels in the knee. Small particles are then injected to block part of the blood flow, causing embolization in the knee.
In doing so, inflammatory markers associated with arthritis are reduced. By minimizing inflammation, researchers can reduce or even eliminate the pain associated with this condition.
The Arthritis Foundation says that while at least 54 million Americans have been diagnosed with arthritis by a doctor, the number is likely underestimated. Experts estimate that more than 91 million adults have arthritis. Although there is no cure, there are measures to prevent and relieve the pain.
“Non-operative or minimally invasive procedures like genicular artery embolization can limit pain and improve movement, so this may be a good option for patients who are simply too risky to perform surgery,” said Dr. Manny Sethi, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
The technique is not new and is the largest study approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States to evaluate this embolization technique to treat arthritis of the knee. It included 40 people who were not candidates for total knee replacement surgery and who were not benefiting from traditional therapies such as NSAIDs, physiotherapy and joint injections.
The researchers found that the average pain score was 8 out of 10 before the procedure. One week after the operation, it was 3 in 10 on average. About 70% of patients reported more than 50% reduction in pain one year after the procedure.
Not everyone is a good candidate for this procedure. According to UCLA Health, ideal patients are people between the ages of 40 and 80, with moderate to severe localized knee pain and who have not received other therapies.
Sethi told Healthline that while this is a great option for older people who cannot tolerate surgery, more research may be needed to verify these results.
“We definitely need larger randomized controlled studies to help us understand the true impact of embolization. However, this appears to be a relatively safe and non-invasive option for non-surgical patients who are looking for additional options, ”Sethi said.
Although arthritis is a condition that many people experience, it can be prevented even before surgery or procedures are needed.
“The biggest thing we don’t talk about is basic weight loss,” Sethi told Healthline. “If you take 5-10 pounds off your body, it’s like taking 50 pounds off your joints – something that can bring major relief to your joints.”
He also encouraged muscle building, stretching, being active, walking more, and not smoking as other preventative measures that can slow arthritis.
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