Get Relief from Osteoarthritic Knee Pain Without Surgery, Through Genicular Artery Embolization.

What is knee osteoarthritis?

After 40 years of age, the gradual wear and tear of the knee joints results in the progressive loss of articular cartilage (tissue that provides cushioning between the bones in the knee joint), known as knee osteoarthritis. The friction due to rubbing of the knee bones causes pain, swelling and stiffness. This affects everyday activities like sitting, standing, walking, bending, and climbing stairs. Overall, it greatly impacts the person's quality of life.

What are the treatment options available?

Patients with an early or moderate stage of osteoarthritis tend to seek relief through conventional treatments like lubricants and medication; however, they realize that these treatments have undesirable side effects. They may consider taking knee injections, since some of them are steroids and cause side effects, they may avoid them. Injecting stem cells into the knee joints is completely ineffective. None of these treatment methods provide a viable solution for alleviating knee pain and in addition, it causes severe side effects.

Many patients do not opt for total knee replacement surgery due to young age or other medical conditions or fear of undergoing surgery.

Now, MIOT’s experts offer a revolutionary alternative solution for knee pain through Genicular Artery Embolization.

What is Genicular Artery Embolization?

Genicular Artery Embolization is a minimally invasive, pinhole procedure that reduces knee inflammation and provides pain relief to patients with knee osteoarthritis. It is performed without open surgery, does not require general anaesthesia and leaves no scars. The patient is discharged within 2 days of the procedure.

How is Genicular Artery Embolization performed?

The synovium is a membrane that lines the inside of the knee joint cavity. Due to rubbing of the knee bones, the synovium gets inflamed. The inflammation increases the blood supply which leads to the growth of new nerve fibres. This causes intense knee pain.

During Genicular Artery Embolization, a local anaesthetic is injected to numb the groin region. Then, a 2mm pinhole incision is made and a fine tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery in the thigh. Guided by an X-ray, the catheter is passed into the blood vessels around the knee joint. A special X-ray contrast liquid is injected to identify the blood vessels which supply blood to the newly formed nerve fibres. Then, tiny particles are injected through the catheter into the blood vessels. This blocks the blood supply to the newly formed nerve fibres, thereby reducing inflammation and pain in the knee joint. After the procedure, the catheter is removed.

Patients who undergo Genicular Artery Embolization experience significant pain relief. They can soon walk without pain and have a normal, painless life for at least 2 years.

Who is Genicular Artery Embolization recommended for?

Conventionally, total knee replacement surgery is the definitive treatment for knee osteoarthritis. However, Genicular Artery Embolization is recommended for patients who are experiencing severe pain due to knee osteoarthritis but are not considering it because of the following reasons.

• Too young to have surgery
• Medically unfit for surgery due to other medical conditions
• Reluctance or fear of undergoing surgery