Study Finds 80% of 194 Knee Arthritis Patients Got 12-Month Relief Without Surgery
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 14
Study Finds 80% of 194 Knee Arthritis Patients Got 12-Month Relief Without Surgery
3 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Oct 14
Summary
A prospective study of 194 osteoarthritis patients found 80% of those assessed at 12 months achieved clinically meaningful knee pain relief after genicular artery embolization using dissolvable microspheres.
Median pain scores fell from 7 before treatment to 3 by six months and stayed there at one year, while mobility, sports function and quality-of-life scores also improved.
Across 239 procedures, doctors reported 100% technical success and no moderate or severe adverse events; mild temporary complications occurred in 6.7% of treatments.
The catheter-based procedure blocks abnormal blood vessels around the knee to reduce inflammation and pain, offering a possible option for patients who have exhausted therapy, drugs and injections but want to avoid replacement surgery.
Evidence remains mixed: some 2026 studies showed benefit over standard care, but sham-controlled and meta-analysis data found no clear advantage, leaving larger controlled trials still needed.