If you have osteoarthritis that is causing chronic knee pain, genicular artery embolization (GAE) may help you enjoy a better quality of life. At Northwestern Medicine, our multidisciplinary team tailors treatment plans to each patient’s needs. This means you’ll get custom care specific to your situation.

Our team consists of:

• Interventional radiologists
• Pain physicians (anesthesiologists)
• Orthopaedic surgeons

What Is GAE?

GAE is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to treat chronic knee pain, especially due to osteoarthritis. To perform GAE, an interventional radiologist will:

• Insert a small catheter into an artery in the groin
• Target the genicular arteries (those supplying the painful area of the knee)
• Inject tiny particles to block blood flow, reducing inflammation and pain signals

A similar procedure is also being adapted for other chronic pain conditions like:

• Frozen shoulder
• Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)

The GAE Procedure: What to Expect

GAE is an outpatient procedure. Here’s what to expect when you have GAE at Northwestern Medicine:

• When you arrive at Interventional Radiology, our team will help get you ready for the procedure.
• They will then take you to the procedure suite.
• The care team will give you anesthesia. You may have moderate sedation (twilight), or you may be asleep.
• Your interventional radiologist will insert a small catheter in an artery in the groin to perform the procedure.
• The procedure typically takes 1 to 2 hours.

Recovery

• After the procedure, you’ll recover in the Interventional Radiology holding area for 2 to 4 hours. This is to make sure there is no risk of bleeding in the groin, and that you recover from the medications given during the procedure.
• You are then discharged to your home.
• Patients don't typically go home with any new medications.
• We recommend not lifting anything over 10 pounds for the first week to help heal the groin puncture site. You can expect to return to normal activities after 1 week, when the lifting restrictions are no longer in place.
• The incision site heals within 1 week.
• Patients typically experience significant pain relief within 2 to 4 weeks as inflammation subsides.

Side Effects

• GAE is generally considered to be a safe, minimally invasive procedure. It has a low risk of complications.
• There is a chance that the injected particles end up in unintended places. This includes particles ending up in branches supplying the skin with the potential risk of injury to the skin overlying your knee. However, your Northwestern Medicine care team performs this procedure in a way to minimize this risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do the benefits of GAE last?
This is still being studied. However, in patients who do respond to this treatment, pain improvement has been shown to last for more than 1 year.

Can GAE be performed in patients who have already had a knee replacement?
Yes. Some studies have shown benefit in these cases.