Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability and chronic pain that reduces physical activity and quality of life. OA affects nearly 30 million people in this country, and the knee is the most common site. The prevalence of knee OA has been rising because of the increasing aging population and the obesity epidemic. OA has long been recognized as a “wear and tear” disease; it is now considered a much more complex disease of low-grade inflammation induced by inflammatory mediators released by cartilage, bone, and synovium. Geniculate artery embolization targets this low-grade inflammation.

Knee replacement surgery is the definitive treatment for OA of the knee. However, there is a large population of patients who are not quite ready for knee replacement and depend on daily anti-inflammatory medications, narcotics, or knee injections for pain control with variable success. Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), or embolization of the knee, is a novel minimally-invasive treatment option for such patients.

Risk Factors

• Increasing age
• Obesity
• Family history
• Prior knee trauma

Symptoms

• Pain that increases when you are active, but gets a little better with rest.
• Swelling
• Feeling of warmth in the joint.
• Stiffness in the knee, especially in the morning or when you have been sitting for a while.

Diagnosis

The physician will perform a physical exam at the clinic visits to assess site of knee pain. To look for OA of the knee, the physician may also request:

• X-ray
• MRI

For More Information:

For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our IR physicians, please call 310-481-7545.