A minimally invasive option for selected patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis pain who are not ready or not suitable for knee replacement surgery.
Performed through a tiny catheter pathway
Cause and disease stage are reviewed first
Rehab and load management still matter
By addressing abnormal blood vessels rather than focusing only on the joint itself, we can reduce inflammation at its source and provide more durable pain relief compared with traditional therapies.
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure used to relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. It works by targeting abnormal blood vessels around the knee that drive ongoing inflammation and pain.
Using advanced imaging guidance, the doctor carefully reduces these abnormal vessels while preserving normal blood flow to the knee. GAE can be especially helpful for patients whose symptoms do not improve with medications, physical therapy, or injections such as steroids or hyaluronic acid.
Adverse events with GAE were typically minor and transient, with ~2.0% of patients requiring medication and ~0.3% of patients requiring hospitalization.
WMD for VAS improved at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Higher scores indicate worse pain, stiffness, and functional limitations — scores decreased after treatment.
* Values shown are pooled average changes (WMD) versus baseline across multiple cohorts.
We choose the right approach based on your symptoms and assessment.
This injection is different from common treatments such as hyaluronic acid or nerve block injections. It directly targets abnormal blood vessels that cause pain.
It is performed by specialists using a substance designed to reduce these vessels. Because it treats the cause of pain, the results can be longer-lasting.
More than 80% of patients experience significant improvement in appropriate cases, and this treatment has been provided to thousands of patients with no serious side effects reported.
For more targeted treatment, we offer catheterization therapy, also called Genicular Arterial Embolization (GAE), a minimally invasive procedure used to treat abnormal blood vessels.
This page now keeps the GAE-specific procedural detail in one place, including the catheter pathway, abnormal vessel reduction, and before-after imaging examples for patients comparing non-surgical knee pain treatment.
Imaging comparison showing reduction of abnormal blood vessels following GAE treatment.
GAE may be a suitable non-surgical knee pain treatment for patients with ongoing knee osteoarthritis pain that does not improve with standard treatments.
At YOUNIFY Clinic, candidacy for GAE is determined through careful clinical assessment and imaging review.
Our doctors consider your symptoms, overall health, and stage of knee disease to recommend the most appropriate treatment — whether GAE or another option.
A consultation can help clarify your options and guide you toward the most suitable care.
