New image-guided treatment helps osteoarthritis patients feel less pain without surgery

A new image-guided treatment could help patients suffering from osteoarthritis by reducing pain significantly and improving their range of motion, according to new research presented March 19 at the Society of Interventional Radiology annual meeting in Los Angeles.  

The research covered the first U.S. clinical trial on geniculate artery embolization (GAE), a nonsurgical treatment that blocks arteries in the knee to reduce inflammation and pain. GAE is performed by inserting catheters through a small incision in the patient. It takes 45 to 90 minutes to perform and does not require physical therapy.

“A majority of our patients with osteoarthritis of the knee saw significant pain reduction, not only just a few days after the procedure, but a month after as well, making this an accessible treatment for patients looking to improve their quality of life without surgery,” Sandeep Bagla, MD, director of interventional radiology at the Vascular Institute of Virginia and lead author of the study, said in a prepared statement. “We are very encouraged by the results and the implications for the millions suffering from this common, yet debilitating condition.”

The researchers successfully completed GAE on 13 patients suffering from “severe osteoarthritis pain.” No adverse events were noted. More research is currently underway.

“This procedure could have a significant impact in the treatment of osteoarthritis pain as a whole,” Bagla said in the statement. “The current mainstay of treatment in patients who have arthritis are pain medications, which come with significant side effects and risks. But GAE provides another option for patients struggling with pain and may even allow patients to avoid the painful recovery of knee surgery and the need for the kind of opioid pain medications associated with the dangerous epidemic in the United States."