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This emerging treatment is helping people avoid knee replacement surgery | ScienceDaily<https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260622091502.htm>

A minimally invasive procedure for chronic knee pain is helping some patients find significant relief without undergoing major surgery.
For Cynthia Schraf-Fletcher, 74, the results were "remarkably" successful.

How Genicular Artery Embolization Works
GAE is an outpatient procedure designed to ease chronic knee pain by reducing blood flow to inflamed areas within the joint. By targeting abnormal blood vessels associated with inflammation, the treatment can help decrease swelling and discomfort. "GAE is a promising minimally invasive procedure that may fill that spot for people who have failed conservative treatments but are not yet ready to have a major surgery."

According to Casadaban, people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis tend to benefit the most. Patients with more advanced disease can also undergo the procedure, although the effects are generally less durable.

GAE typically takes between one and two hours and is performed under conscious sedation. During the procedure, an interventional radiology team makes a small incision near the crease of the leg. Using X-ray imaging and contrast dye for guidance, doctors advance a tiny catheter through the femoral artery until it reaches the genicular arteries around the knee. Once in position, the team releases microscopic beads that block blood flow to the abnormal vessels located in the painful areas identified by the patient. Patients are monitored for several hours afterward and are usually able to return home the same day. Doctors generally advise taking it easy for a few days during recovery.

"The theory is that GAE reduces inflammation inside the knee joint, and symptom relief can last years," Casadaban says.

Casadaban is currently leading two clinical trials at CU Anschutz. One study is examining changes in knee fluid among patients receiving GAE. The other is evaluating a temporary arterial treatment device called Nexsphere-F, which blocks small blood vessels in the knee that may contribute to inflammation and pain.

Expanding Beyond Knee Osteoarthritis
Although GAE is currently used only for knee conditions, Casadaban says researchers and physicians are beginning to explore its use for other painful musculoskeletal disorders, including frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.

Interested in participating in a clinical trial? Check out these options
Study Details | NCT07380906 | geniculaR Artery eMBolization for Knee Osteoarthritis (RAMBO) Registry | ClinicalTrials.gov<https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07380906?intr=Genicular%20artery%20embolization%20%5C(GAE%5C)&viewType=Card&aggFilters=status:rec&rank=2#participation-criteria>
Study Details | NCT06859164 | Genicular Artery Embolization for Reducing Pain in Medically Refractory Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis | ClinicalTrials.gov<https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06859164?intr=Genicular%20artery%20embolization%20%5C(GAE%5C)&viewType=Card&aggFilters=status:rec&rank=4#participation-criteria>
Study Details | NCT07537153 | Genicular Artery Embolization for Knee Osteoarthritis | ClinicalTrials.gov<https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07537153?intr=Genicular%20artery%20embolization%20%5C(GAE%5C)&viewType=Card&aggFilters=status:rec&rank=5#participation-criteria>
Study Details | NCT06872567 | Randomized Controlled Study Evaluating Genicular Artery Embolization Against Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Knee Injection for Osteoarthritic Knee Pain | ClinicalTrials.gov<https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06872567#participation-criteria>
Study Details | NCT06940479 | Evaluating Changes in Synovial Fluid Before and After GAE for Knee Osteoarthritis | ClinicalTrials.gov<https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06940479?cond=Knee%20Osteoarthritis&intr=Genicular%20artery%20embolization%20%5C(GAE%5C)&viewType=Card&aggFilters=status:rec&rank=2#participation-criteria>

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