Do you suffer from knee pain, stiffness, swelling, and a sensation of instability or locking in the knee joint? If so, you may have osteoarthritis (OA), which is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by the cartilage of the joint being worn down over time. As a result, the knee joint is surrounded by chronic inflammation. While it cannot be reversed, there is a treatment available to help improve joint function, reduce pain, and improve an individual’s quality of life. The treatment, known as Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE), is a non-surgical procedure for managing chronic knee pain, performed by Dr. Kevin Carson at the Georgia Vascular Institute in Atlanta.

What is Genicular Artery Embolization?

The genicular arteries are a group of blood vessels surrounding the knee that become inflamed and painful when patients develop chronic osteoarthritis. Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) is a minimally invasive procedure in which tiny bead-like particles are injected into the inflamed artery to reduce blood flow, thereby reducing inflammation around the knee and resulting in pain reduction. The GAE procedure is a non-surgical treatment for relieving knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Here’s What Happens During a GAE Procedure by Dr. Carson

The GAE procedure is performed with local anesthetic and moderate sedation that typically takes 1-2 hours to perform.

• Dr. Carson will use an ultrasound to place a small catheter (the size of a spaghetti noodle) in the artery in the patient’s groin.
• Using X-ray guidance, the catheter is navigated into the artery with inflammation.
• Tiny bead-like particles are injected into the inflamed artery to reduce the blood flow.
• After 2-4 hours of recovery, the patient can go home.

Am I a Good Candidate for GAE?

Good candidates for the Genicular Artery Embolization treatment have:

• A history of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee
• Pain in one or both knees at rest or walking
• Stiffness in the knees upon waking
• Degenerative joint disease (DJD)
• Failed previous treatments, such as knee injections and physical therapy

Patients in the Atlanta area choose Dr. Carson at the Georgia Vascular Institute because he is a globally recognized physician, educator, and pioneer in his field driven by a passion to help patients achieve full, vibrant lives without pain.

Make an Appointment to Discuss GAE with Dr. Carson

If you have chronic knee pain and would like to discuss your options for knee pain relief, call our office at (770) 506-4007 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Carson today to see if GAE is right for you.