Genicular Artery Embolization
Relief from knee pain—no surgery, no hospital, back on your feet in days.
Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment for knee arthritis pain. No surgery. No hospital stay. Most people are back to normal activities within days.
60-75%
less knee pain reported in studies
72%
still finding relief at 24 months
Same Day
outpatient — home the same day
Knee pain has no age. Does this sound like you?
If knee arthritis or chronic pain is changing how you live — not just how you feel — GAE may be worth a conversation. Most of the people we help are dealing with:
Why people choose GAE
- Minimally invasive. A tiny puncture instead of an incision, so there’s far less to recover from.
- Outpatient and fast. The procedure takes about an hour and you go home the same day.
- Treats the source. It calms the inflammation driving your pain rather than just masking it.
- Keeps your natural knee. Nothing in the joint is cut, altered, or replaced.
- Quick recovery. Most people are back to everyday activities within days, not weeks.
- Lasting relief. In clinical studies, pain relief has lasted a year or more, and the procedure can be repeated if needed.
- A real option when surgery isn’t. It can help people who’ve run out of other options or can’t safely have a knee replacement.
The Procedure
How GAE works
Knee arthritis pain is driven, in part, by abnormal blood vessels feeding the inflamed lining of the joint. GAE targets that inflammation at its source — without touching the joint itself.
Step 01
Access
Through a tiny puncture in the wrist or upper thigh, a board-certified interventional radiologist guides a thin catheter to the arteries feeding your knee.
Step 02
Embolization
Microscopic particles gently reduce the excess blood flow that fuels the inflammation.
Step 03
Relief
As the inflammation settles over the following weeks, pain eases and movement gets easier. No incision, no hardware, no replacing the joint.
compare your options
GAE vs. Knee Replacement
Surgery
No
Yes
Anesthesia
Local + light sedation
General or spinal
Hospital stay
Often 1–3 days
Recovery
Days
Weeks to months
Your natural knee
Preserved
Best suited for
Delaying or avoiding replacement; poor surgical candidates
Individual results and candidacy vary. Your physician will review whether GAE is appropriate for you.
Backed by Research
GAE is supported by prospective clinical trials, including two-year outcome data. Two numbers get quoted, and they measure different things:
The procedure is completed successfully in about 95–100% of cases—the radiologist reaches and treats the small vessels feeding the inflamed knee lining.
65–85% of patients go on to experience significant pain relief—typically a 50% or greater reduction in pain—along with better movement.
We lead with the second number because it’s the one that matters to you: whether your knee actually feels better. Our interventional radiologists will walk you through what the evidence means for your situation.
Insurance & Cost
Coverage for GAE varies by plan. Our team verifies your benefits and explains any cost clearly before you decide anything — no surprises.
What our Patients are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions…
Find out if GAE is right for your knees.
Book a free consultation and our team will review your history, your imaging, and your options — no pressure, no obligation.
