A non-surgical procedure that temporarily blocks extra blood vessels in the knee is offering lasting pain relief for people with
In a clinical study of 194 patients, 80% of them reported significant reductions in knee pain that lasted for at least a full year after receiving the treatment
The findings highlight a potential alternative for millions of adults with chronic joint pain who have outgrown pain medications or steroid injections — but who want to avoid total knee replacement
Osteoarthritis wears down joint cartilage and causes the body to grow unnecessary new blood vessels around the knee, according to Mayo Clinic
These extra vessels increase surrounding nerves, making daily movement painful
The procedure, known as genicular artery embolization (GAE), addresses this directly
By temporarily clogging excess blood vessels, doctors can reduce inflammation and quiet pain-sensing nerves without or permanent implants
Because the treatment uses microscopic gelatin particles that dissolve over time, it leaves no foreign material behind If widely adopted, GAE could provide a repeatable, low-risk way for patients to stay active and preserve joint function longer, researchers say.
"For many patients with knee osteoarthritis, there is a real treatment gap today," said Florian Nima Fleckenstein, MD., deputy head of Interventional Radiology Campus Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in a press release.
"Our study demonstrates that GAE using rapidly resorbable is a safe, minimally invasive therapy that provides meaningful pain relief and functional improvement in participants with osteoarthritis-related knee symptoms for at least 12 months"
During GAE, doctors use real-time X-ray guidance to steer a thin, flexible tube into the blood vessels surrounding the knee joint
Then they release tiny, dissolvable gelatin particles into specific vessels to slow excess blood flow to the inflamed areas
Across 239 total procedures performed on 194 study participants, none experienced severe complications
Only 67% reported mild side effects, such as or minor bruising, issues that resolved on their own.
"In our cohort, we saw a significant drop in pain and a significant increase in function, including sports and recreation and daily activity," Fleckenstein said
"Most importantly, their quality of life significantly increased"
In addition to feeling less pain, participants experienced gains in daily mobility Patients reported easier walking, climbing stairs and bending, while overall quality-of-life scores more than doubled over the 12-month follow-up period.
While the results are promising, researchers note several important limitations
First, the study did not include a control group receiving a mock or placebo procedure
Without a comparison group, it is difficult to isolate the of the dissolvable particles from potential placebo effects, the researchers said
Second, the study tracked patients for only one year
Further research is needed to determine how long the pain relief typically lasts and how often repeat treatments might be required
Finally, while GAE effectively reduces inflammation and pain, the researchers said it is not a cure
The procedure does not or reverse structural joint damage Larger, randomized trials are currently underway to confirm these early findings.
Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for further comment