Genicular artery embolization
Reducing the abnormal blood supply that drives knee pain.
Patient education from the practice of Dr. Mandeep Sagar. This guide does not replace individual medical advice. About Dr. Mandeep Sagar
Genicular artery embolisation treats long-standing knee pain from osteoarthritis by reducing the abnormal blood vessels feeding the inflamed joint lining — through a pinhole, with no joint surgery.
What patients call it
Knee pain treatment without replacement surgery
At a glance
- What it does
- Reducing the abnormal blood supply that drives knee pain.
- Used for
- Knee osteoarthritis pain · Chronic knee pain not responding to medication
- How it is done
- Angiography shows an abnormal blush over the inflamed knee lining. → A microcatheter is advanced into the genicular branch feeding it. → Microspheres are released to reduce that supply.
- Recovery
- Procedure: Day 0 · Day 1: Routine activity
Used for
- — Knee osteoarthritis pain
- — Chronic knee pain not responding to medication
Symptoms & Causes
Symptoms
- — Chronic knee pain
- — Pain not relieved by medicines
Common Causes
- — Osteoarthritis
- — Inflammation
Diagnosis & Treatment
How it is diagnosed
- — X-ray / MRI
- — Clinical exam
The Procedure
- — Genicular artery embolization
Recovery & Benefits
- Procedure: Day 0
- Day 1: Routine activity
- 1 Month: Pain relief onset
Procedure sequence
- 01
Angiography shows an abnormal blush over the inflamed knee lining.
- 02
A microcatheter is advanced into the genicular branch feeding it.
- 03
Microspheres are released to reduce that supply.
- 04
The blush disappears under fluoroscopy.
- 05
Pain improves over the following weeks. No joint is opened.
Questions patients ask
How long does relief last after knee embolisation?+
Most studies report meaningful pain relief for one to two years or more. It does not reverse cartilage loss, so joint replacement remains available later if needed.