Living with knee pain can slowly change almost every part of a person's routine. Simple tasks such as climbing stairs, going for a walk or staying active with family can become increasingly difficult as discomfort grows over time.
Now, new research from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin suggests there may be another option for people who have run out of conventional treatments but are not yet ready for knee replacement surgery, reports Science Daily.
A different approach
The study, published in the journal Radiology and highlighted by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), focused on a procedure known as genicular artery embolization (GAE).
Rather than targeting the joint itself, doctors use imaging guidance to reach tiny blood vessels surrounding the knee that are linked to inflammation. Small gelatin-based particles are then delivered to temporarily block blood flow in these vessels.
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Researchers believe reducing this abnormal blood vessel activity may help ease pain and improve knee function.
Promising findings
The study included 194 patients suffering from osteoarthritis-related knee pain who had not achieved adequate relief from physiotherapy, medication or injections.
A total of 239 procedures were performed, and researchers reported a 100% technical success rate. No moderate or severe complications were recorded, while only a small number of patients experienced mild side effects that resolved on their own.
After one year, the results showed:
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- Significant reductions in pain levels
- Improved mobility and daily function
- Better participation in physical activities
- Higher quality-of-life scores
Around 80% of participants achieved improvements considered clinically meaningful by the researchers.
What comes next?
According to the research team, the benefits appeared quickly after treatment and remained largely stable throughout the 12-month follow-up period.
The authors describe the study as the largest investigation to date examining GAE using rapidly resorbable gelatin-based microspheres. While additional studies will be needed to confirm long-term outcomes, the findings suggest the procedure could become an important treatment option for patients seeking relief before considering joint replacement.
For millions of people living with knee osteoarthritis, that could represent a valuable new step between temporary symptom management and major surgery.
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