Chronic knee pain can make life feel smaller. If you’ve tried therapy, medications, or injections and you’re still dealing with daily pain, it’s normal to look for something that doesn’t involve a big surgery and a long recovery. Genicular Artery Embolization, or GAE, is a minimally invasive procedure that targets inflammation linked to knee osteoarthritis. But it isn’t right for everyone. The best way to think about candidacy is simple: GAE works best when pain is driven mainly by long-standing inflammation, not a new injury or a mechanical problem.
Most people who benefit from Genicular Artery Embolization share a few key traits. First, they have a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, usually mild to moderate. That means there is still some joint space left and the knee isn’t severely deformed. GAE can be used in some more advanced cases, but outcomes tend to be better when arthritis hasn’t reached the end stage.
Second, the knee pain is chronic and steady. Doctors usually look for pain that has lasted at least several months and hasn’t improved enough to let you live normally. GAE is not meant for sudden pain from a recent fall, sports injury, or flare that just started.
Third, conservative care hasn’t worked well enough. Strong candidates are people who have already done the basics—like physical therapy and strengthening, anti-inflammatory medication when safe, or injections such as corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid—but still feel limited by pain. That history helps your doctor confirm that inflammation is likely the main driver of symptoms.
This part is important because it explains why GAE works for some knees and not others. GAE reduces abnormal blood flow that feeds inflamed joint tissue. If your pain is coming mostly from a mechanical issue—like a meniscus tear, ligament instability, or a loose piece of cartilage—blocking blood vessels won’t fix the root problem. That’s why your doctor will want to know what you’ve tried, how you responded, and what your imaging shows.
There isn’t a strict age cutoff for GAE, but most patients treated so far fall roughly between 40 and 80. Age matters less than overall health and the condition of the knee. Because GAE uses contrast dye and tiny catheters, your team will look closely at kidney function, bleeding risk, and blood vessel health. People with serious circulation problems in the legs, active bleeding disorders, or severe kidney disease may not be good candidates.
A lot of people explore GAE because they want to avoid or delay knee replacement. You may be a good fit if you’re trying to push surgery further into the future, or if your medical situation makes surgery riskier right now. Some people also simply prefer a less invasive option with a shorter recovery, even if they might consider surgery later.
GAE isn’t the best option if osteoarthritis isn’t the main source of your pain. It also may not help much if your knee has end-stage arthritis with major bone changes, severe deformity, or almost no joint space left. In those cases, the structural damage is usually too advanced for inflammation-focused treatment to bring meaningful long-term relief. GAE is also avoided when there’s an active infection in or around the knee, or if cancer is suspected in the joint area.
Candidacy is decided during a consultation with an interventional radiologist. They’ll review your history, examine your knee, and study imaging like X-rays or MRI. Imaging helps confirm the level of arthritis and shows whether inflammation and abnormal blood vessels are likely driving your pain. If everything lines up, they’ll walk you through expected benefits, risks, and whether GAE makes sense for your goals.
Genicular Artery Embolization can be a valuable option for people with osteoarthritis-related knee pain that won’t settle down with standard treatments. If your pain is chronic, inflammatory, and you’re not ready for major surgery, a GAE consultation may be worth your time. The right specialist can help you decide if this approach fits your knee, your health, and the life you want to get back to. Request an appointment today!
The best candidates usually have mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, chronic pain lasting months, and limited relief from therapy, medications, or injections. They often want to delay or avoid knee replacement.
It may help some severe cases, but results tend to be better when arthritis isn’t end-stage. If there’s major deformity or almost no joint space left, surgery may be more effective.
GAE is designed for inflammatory pain from osteoarthritis. If your pain is mostly mechanical from an injury, your doctor may recommend a different treatment.
Yes. Certain vascular problems, active infection, serious kidney disease, or bleeding disorders may make GAE unsafe or less effective. Your doctor will screen for these.
Yes. Imaging such as X-ray or MRI helps confirm osteoarthritis severity and whether inflammation is the main source of pain.
