Are you struggling with chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis? You may worry that knee replacement surgery is your only option, but there are newer treatments that can provide relief with less discomfort, scarring and downtime. At Minimally Invasive Medical Group, we use genicular artery embolization (GAE) to reduce knee pain and help you avoid joint replacement surgery.

Osteoarthritis is a frequent cause of knee pain, especially in later life. After decades of motion, natural wear and tear reduces the protective cartilage that covers your bones and cushions the joint.

Without protection, the bone ends catch and rub, creating inflammation. The inflammation causes long-term joint pain that steadily gets worse. The knee joint becomes stiffer and weaker as the condition progresses, and you may eventually lose mobility and function.

Genicular artery embolization blocks some of the blood vessels that contribute to these problems. Reducing blood flow into the joint helps decrease inflammation and pain, giving you relief from discomfort without the need to remove or replace any part of your knee.

GAE is safe and effective, lasts for years and is covered by medical insurance. You can even have the procedure after knee replacement surgery if you still experience pain.

During a GAE procedure, the interventional radiologist punctures the skin to access the artery, guiding a catheter to the genicular arteries using X-ray imaging. They release microspheres that block blood flow to the inflamed areas of the knee, reducing inflammation while preserving healthy circulation to the rest of the joint.

Before recommending a treatment plan, our expert team evaluates each patient’s symptoms, medical history, and goals. GAE can effectively reduce knee pain for many with osteoarthritis, but we start with a consultation to determine if it’s the right choice for you.

GAE is versatile and has no strict age or weight limitations, making it suitable for those who have had knee surgery but still experience pain, as well as patients looking to preserve the option of future knee replacement.

You may be a good candidate for genicular artery embolization if you:

• Experience chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis that affects your daily activities
• Have not found adequate relief from conservative treatments like medications or physical therapy
• Have tried steroid injections but found the relief 
• too temporary
• Do not wish to use medications long-term
• Want to avoid or delay knee replacement surgery
• Are not a good candidate for knee replacement
• Desire a solution with minimal downtime

Knee osteoarthritis is a progressive condition that becomes increasingly painful. Knee replacement is often the suggested solution, but you may not be a good candidate for surgery, or you may simply not be interested in an invasive procedure.

GAE is an alternative option for reducing knee pain with many additional benefits:

• Minimally invasive, outpatient procedure
• No large incisions
• No removal of bone
• No general anesthesia
• No overnight hospital stay
• Minimal downtime
• Targeted treatment that only affects the problematic area
• Lower risk of complications compared to invasive surgery
• No age, weight or health condition restrictions
• Preserves your natural knee joint
• No effect on candidacy for future knee replacement
• Long-lasting pain relief that can extend for months or years
• Covered by Medicare

The OCIR team ensures a comfortable experience during the GAE procedure, which lasts 60-90 minutes. On the procedure day, patients arrive at a modern outpatient facility, where an IV line is placed for moderate sedation and medications. The treatment area in the upper thigh is cleaned and numbed. Patients lie on their backs while an interventional radiologist uses advanced imaging to target problematic vessels in the knee. Patients remain awake, feeling relaxed and only slight pressure. After the procedure, patients recover until it’s safe to discharge, with the team monitoring vitals and the procedure site.

Most patients go home a few hours after the procedure with a small bandage on the upper thigh; no stitches are needed. Mild soreness at the site may last one to two days.

Our team will provide care instructions for the access site and recovery guidelines. Many patients return to desk work in one to two days and light activities within a week. We'll determine the timeline for returning to strenuous activities based on your healing.

You might notice some improvement in knee pain immediately, with more significant relief expected after two weeks and continued improvement after one month.

Lake Forest

29300 Portola Parkway, Suite B

Lake Forest, CA 92630

Mission Viejo

26921 Crown Valley Parkway, #120

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Irvine

18102 Sky Park Circle South, Suite D

Irvine, CA 92614

Copyright © 2025 Orange County Interventional Radiology Center. All Rights Reserved

Digital Marketing by Incredible Marketing