A new minimally invasive treatment for knee osteoarthritis has shown promising results, with 80 per cent of patients reporting meaningful pain relief lasting at least one year, according to a study published in the journal Radiology.

The treatment, known as genicular artery embolization (GAE), targets abnormal blood vessels around the knee joint that contribute to inflammation and chronic pain.

It could offer an alternative for patients who do not respond adequately to conventional treatments and cannot undergo, or wish to avoid, knee replacement surgery.

The study, conducted by researchers led by Florian Nima Fleckenstein of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, involved 194 patients whose knee pain persisted despite at least three months of conventional care, including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and joint injections.

During the procedure, doctors use a thin catheter to deliver tiny, gelatin-based particles into selected blood vessels around the knee.

The particles block the targeted vessels temporarily and dissolve within hours, with the aim of reducing inflammation while preserving normal blood circulation.

According to the findings, patients experienced substantial improvements in pain, mobility and quality of life following treatment.

Median pain scores fell from seven out of 10 before the procedure to four after six weeks.

The score declined further to three at six months and remained at that level after 12 months.

At the one-year follow-up, 80 per cent of patients who completed the pain assessment reported improvements considered clinically meaningful.

“In our cohort, we saw a significant drop in pain and a significant increase in function, including sports and recreation and daily activity,” Fleckenstein said. “Most importantly, their quality of life significantly increased.”

Researchers also reported improvements in everyday activities, including walking and climbing stairs, as well as participation in sports and recreation.

The safety findings were encouraging. All 239 procedures performed on the participants were technically successful. Mild, temporary complications occurred in 6.7 per cent of procedures, while no moderate or severe adverse events were recorded.

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that knee osteoarthritis affects more than 365 million adults, making effective treatment options an important public health concern.

However, researchers cautioned that further studies are needed to establish how much of the improvement results directly from the procedure. The study did not include a control group, making it difficult to separate the treatment's effects from other factors.

The researchers also noted that the findings do not establish whether the procedure can prevent cartilage damage or slow disease progression.

Larger controlled trials and longer follow-up periods will be needed to determine its long-term effectiveness and identify the patients most likely to benefit.