- A non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment effectively provides immediate and long-term pain relief.
- Patients usually go home on the same day after a short postoperative observation after undergoing embolization of the genicular artery or GAE.
- By reducing inflammation, the researchers found that they could alleviate or even eliminate the pain associated with arthritis.
Arthritis is a major cause of joint-related pain in people around the world. However, there may be a promising non-surgical procedure that can relieve pain for at least 12 months.
The UCLA Health researchers studied a non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment option for arthritis that effectively provides immediate and long-term pain relief.
Through a technique called embolization of the genicular artery, 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 cartilage is damaged by overuse. It causes stiffness, immobility and discomfort, which usually worsen with age.
When cartilage wears out, inflammatory enzymes are released, causing joint pain.
And with over 100 types of arthritis, it is one of the most common diseases that affect people.
Embolization of the genicular artery is an outpatient procedure designed to limit inflammatory enzymes. GAE takes approximately 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 towards the blood vessels in the knee. Then small particles are injected to block part of the blood flow, causing knee embolization.
In doing so, the inflammatory markers associated with arthritis are reduced. By minimizing inflammation, researchers can decrease or even eliminate the pain associated with this condition.
The Arthritis Foundation indicates that although at least 54 million Americans have been diagnosed with arthritis by a doctor, the number is probably underestimated. Experts believe that more than 91 million adults have arthritis. Although there is no cure, there are measures to prevent and relieve pain.
“Non-surgical or minimally invasive procedures, such as embolization of the genicular artery, can limit pain and improve movement, so this can be a good option for patients who are too risky to perform surgery,” said Dr. Manny Sethi, professor assistant, 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 knee arthritis. It included 40 people who were not candidates for total knee arthroplasty and did not benefit from traditional therapies such as NSAIDs, physical therapy and joint injections.
The researchers found that the average pain score was 8 out of 10 before the procedure. One week after the procedure, it was 3 out of 10, on average. About 70 percent of patients reported a more than 50 percent reduction in pain one year after the procedure.
Not everyone is a good candidate for this procedure. UCLA Health claims that ideal patients are people between the ages of 40 and 80, with moderate to severe localized knee pain and do not benefit from 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 trials to help us understand the real impact of embolization. However, this appears to be a relatively safe and non-invasive option for non-surgical patients looking for additional options, ”said Sethi.
Although arthritis is a condition that many people suffer from, it can be prevented even before surgery or the need for procedures.
“The biggest thing we’re not talking about is basic weight loss,” Sethi told Healthline. “If you take 5 to 10 pounds off your body, it’s like taking 50 pounds off your joints – it’s something that can give your joints great relief.”
He also encouraged muscle strengthening, stretching, activity, walking more and not smoking, as other preventive measures that can delay arthritis.