For millions of people suffering with knee pain, a new, non-surgical procedure offers the promise of easing it away for at least 12 months with a single injection. Genicular Artery Embolization, or GAE, is an emerging, minimally invasive treatment that targets abnormal blood vessels in osteoarthritis patients. In an osteoarthritic knee, abnormal vessels build up around the joint and drive inflammation and pain. During GAE, a radiologist guides a thin catheter directly to each affected vessel and injects tiny particles to block it, calming the inflammation and easing the pain without surgery. The injection consists of gelatin-based microspheres designed to dissolve within hours. For the right patient, it can mean lasting relief from a single, minimally invasive procedure, a meaningful new option between injections and joint replacement.
