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Knee arthritis pain — relief without a knee replacement.
Not ready for knee surgery — or not a candidate? Genicular artery embolization (GAE) calms the inflammation that drives osteoarthritis pain, through a small catheter. 45–90 minutes, home the same day.
- Board-certified specialists · Same-day, minimally invasive procedures
When knee arthritis starts running your life
Knee osteoarthritis is chronic and progressive — and not everyone is ready, or an ideal candidate, for joint replacement surgery. GAE offers a middle path.
- Chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis that's getting worse
- Pain and stiffness that limit walking, stairs, or sleep
- Injections and pain medications that no longer do enough
- Wanting to avoid — or delay — knee replacement surgery
- Being told you're not a good candidate for surgery
GAE: treat the inflammation, keep your knee
Osteoarthritis pain isn’t only about worn cartilage — chronic inflammation in the joint lining plays a major role, fed by abnormal blood vessels.
Genicular artery embolization (GAE) targets exactly that. Through a small catheter — no large incision, no joint removal, no general anesthesia — your doctor releases tiny particles (microspheres) that block the abnormal vessels fueling the inflammation. Less abnormal blood flow means less inflammation: less pain, less swelling, less stiffness.
Unlike surgery, GAE doesn’t cut into the joint, remove tissue, or replace bone. It addresses one of the root causes of osteoarthritis pain at the vascular level — and studies show relief can last months, with some patients experiencing benefits for a year or more.
Your day, step by step
No surprises. Here’s exactly what happens before, during, and after.
Your doctor evaluates your knee, reviews your imaging, and confirms GAE is a fit — especially if you’re hoping to avoid or delay a knee replacement. We verify your insurance benefits before anything is scheduled.
In an outpatient setting, the catheter entry point (usually your upper thigh) is numbed with local anesthesia. Using X-ray guidance, your doctor navigates a thin catheter to the genicular arteries around your knee and releases the microspheres that block the abnormal, inflammation-feeding vessels. The whole procedure typically takes 45–90 minutes.
After a brief recovery period, most patients go home the same day — no overnight stay. Recovery is minimal: many people resume light activities within a few days, far sooner than after surgery. Relief builds as the inflammation settles.
What this means for you
Keep your own knee
No large incisions, no joint removal, no implant. GAE calms the inflammation while your knee stays intact — and keeps every future option open.
Days, not months, of recovery
A 45–90 minute outpatient procedure with most patients back to light activity within days — far sooner than joint replacement.
Lasting relief
Studies show GAE can provide significant pain relief for months — some patients report benefits lasting a year or more.
The things people actually want to know
For some people it delays one — for others it avoids one. GAE treats the inflammation driving your pain, so you can stay active on your own knee. If you ever do need a replacement down the road, having had GAE doesn’t close that door.
Yes — awake but relaxed. The catheter site is numbed with local anesthesia, and no general anesthesia is required. That’s part of what makes GAE gentler and lower-risk than surgery.
Studies show significant pain relief lasting several months, and some patients report benefits for a year or more. Your doctor will talk through realistic expectations for your specific knee.
You’ll need someone to drive you home the day of your procedure because of the sedation. Most people can drive again the next day — your doctor will confirm what’s right for you before you leave.
Medicare and most major insurance plans cover medically necessary procedures like this one. And you won’t have to guess: we verify your benefits before anything is scheduled and tell you exactly what to expect, so there are no surprises.
That’s a common story — and exactly when GAE is worth discussing. Because it works at the vascular level rather than inside the joint space, it takes a fundamentally different approach than steroid or gel injections.
One team, your team
Board-certified specialists in vascular, venous, and interventional care review every plan together — so you never feel handed off.
Want to stay off the operating table — and on your feet?
Contact us to see if GAE is right for your knee — same-week appointments are usually available.
Procedure: genicular artery embolization (GAE) — superselective embolization of the genicular arteries with calibrated microspheres under fluoroscopic guidance; local anesthesia with light sedation; 45–90 minutes; outpatient, same-day discharge.
Consider referral for: symptomatic knee OA (KL grade 2–4) refractory to conservative therapy (NSAIDs, PT, intra-articular injections), patients unfit for or declining TKA, and TKA candidates seeking to delay surgery.
Workup we handle: imaging review and candidacy assessment. Your office receives the complete report through the CiC physician portal.