GAE for OA knee in Wales
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Genicular Artery Embolisation as a minimally invasive intervention to manage patients with mild-moderate osteoarthritis of the knee – setting up a new innovative service for Welsh patients.
IRAS ID
315730
Contact name
Nimit Goyal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aneurin Bevan University Hospital
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN82978621
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered a condition of MSK pain with approximately 450,000 individuals living with OA in Wales (Versus Arthritis OA Calculator). Mild to moderate knee OA, not yet severe enough to warrant joint replacement, and resistant to nonsurgical options, represents a specific management challenge. Current treatment options include physiotherapy and drug interventions.
The pathogenesis of OA appears to be multi-faceted, with angiogenesis borne out of inflammatory processes theorised to play a significant role in the OA-associated pain. Geniculate artery embolization (GAE) is an Interventional Radiology procedure that aims to relieve pain related to OA by embolising the pathological new vessels while maintaining the larger vascular supply to the bone. It is done as a day case using local anaesthesia. A catheter is passed in the femoral artery and then angiography is performed to identify the blood vessels supplying the area of increased vascularity. Once the abnormal new vessels are identified, a microcatheter is navigated into them under X-ray guidance. Tiny embolization particles are then delivered to the area of increased vascularity until the blood flow is stopped. GAE is the focused embolization the pathological neovessels, with preservation of the genicular artery.
This project looks to explore the effectiveness of this novel interventional radiological procedure, genicular artery embolization, as a treatment option to reduce pain and improve joint mobility and overall quality of life and wellbeing in those patients living with mild- moderate osteoarthritis of the knee. As the first known study in Wales to investigate the potential benefits of this embolization procedure, it is hoped this study will realise the benefits of this intervention and lead ultimately to widespread adoption within Wales.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EM/0239
Date of REC Opinion
17 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion