GAE (Genicular Artery Embolization)

GAE is performed under local anesthesia using a small catheter inserted through a tiny puncture in the upper thigh. Using real-time imaging, the physician targets and blocks specific arteries supplying the inflamed knee tissue. The procedure typically takes under two hours and patients return home the same day.

Most patients report minimal discomfort during the procedure. Some may experience mild soreness afterward, which usually resolves within a few days. Compared to surgery, GAE involves significantly less pain and downtime.

Pain relief can begin within a few days but tends to improve gradually over 4–6 weeks. Patients often report continued improvement for months following the procedure, with peak benefits felt within the first three months.

Like any procedure, GAE carries minor risks such as bruising, bleeding, or allergic reaction to contrast dye. Serious complications are rare. MM Medical uses advanced imaging and strict safety protocols to ensure your procedure is as safe and effective as possible.

Yes. If knee pain returns after a significant period of relief, the procedure can be safely repeated. Many patients choose to do so when symptoms reappear, often a year or more after their initial treatment.

The GAE procedure for knee pain—short for Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)—is a minimally invasive, image-guided treatment used for knee pain related to osteoarthritis. During GAE, a physician uses real-time imaging to guide a small catheter and then targets specific tiny arteries that contribute to ongoing inflammation in the knee. By reducing that abnormal inflammatory blood flow, GAE can help decrease knee pain, swelling, and stiffness without joint replacement surgery.

A good way to know if you qualify for GAE is to start with an evaluation that reviews your symptoms, prior treatments, and knee imaging. In general, GAE is often considered for people with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis who still have chronic knee pain despite options like physical therapy, medications, or injections—and who want to avoid or delay knee replacement. At MM Medical, your candidacy for GAE is determined through a personalized review of your health history and imaging to ensure the approach fits your condition and goals.

Yes. GAE is available in Forest Hills (Queens), NY at MM Medical, and we see patients from across Queens and surrounding areas who are searching for “GAE near me.”

Recovery from GAE is typically faster than surgical options because it’s a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure performed with a small puncture rather than a large incision. Many patients return home the same day and resume light activity relatively quickly, with improvement often building over the days and weeks after the procedure. Your recovery timeline can vary based on your overall health and knee condition, and MM Medical provides aftercare guidance tailored to you.

Many patients experience meaningful relief that can last 12 months or more, with some noticing improvement within days and continued progress over several weeks. Because GAE targets the vascular source of inflammation in osteoarthritis-related knee pain, the results may be longer-lasting than symptom-only approaches for some patients. If knee pain returns, GAE may be repeatable when clinically appropriate.

GAE is often considered when knee pain from osteoarthritis persists despite conservative care—such as physical therapy, medications, or injections—and when someone wants a non-surgical alternative to help delay or avoid knee replacement. It can also be an option for people who aren’t ideal surgical candidates due to certain health factors. The right choice depends on your imaging, symptom severity, function, and long-term goals, which is why an evaluation is important to determine whether GAE, knee replacement, or another approach makes the most sense for you.