Artery Embolization vs Nerve Ablation for Knee Osteoarthritis

Overseen By David Clinkard, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: David Clinkard

Must not be taking: Immunosuppressants

Disqualifiers: Infection, Autoimmune diseases, Vascular disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 1 day

150 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores two treatments for knee osteoarthritis to determine which might ease symptoms. Participants will receive one of three options: genicular artery embolization (a procedure that blocks certain blood vessels to reduce pain), genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation (a technique that uses heat or chemicals to numb nerves), or a sham procedure (a fake treatment for comparison). The goal is to determine if either real treatment is more effective than the sham and to identify any signs that predict who will benefit. This trial suits those who have experienced knee pain from osteoarthritis for at least six months and have not found relief with standard treatments like medication or physical therapy. As an unphased trial, this study offers patients a unique opportunity to explore innovative treatments that might provide relief beyond standard options.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, since the study involves patients with knee osteoarthritis resistant to non-surgical treatment, it might be possible to continue some medications. Please consult with the trial coordinators for specific guidance.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that genicular artery embolization (GAE) is generally safe and may help relieve symptoms for people with knee osteoarthritis. Studies have found that patients handle this procedure well, and no major safety issues have been reported, indicating it is a low-risk option.

Similarly, genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation (PNA) has been shown to be safe and effective for reducing long-term knee pain. Reports indicate that patients tolerate this treatment well, with no serious side effects noted.

Both GAE and PNA have undergone safety studies, and the results suggest they are promising options for managing knee pain due to osteoarthritis. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about genicular artery embolization and genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation for knee osteoarthritis because they offer novel ways to address pain that differ from traditional methods like oral medications and joint injections. Genicular artery embolization targets the blood vessels supplying the knee, using microspheres to reduce blood flow and inflammation in the area, potentially leading to pain relief. On the other hand, genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation focuses on disrupting pain signals by applying phenol to the nerves around the knee using ultrasound guidance. Both methods provide targeted, minimally invasive options that could offer quicker pain relief compared to conventional treatments.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for knee osteoarthritis?

This trial will compare genicular artery embolization (GAE) and genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation (PNA) for knee osteoarthritis. Research has shown that GAE can significantly reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis, with studies finding a 60-80% reduction in pain six months and two years after the procedure, indicating long-term relief. GAE is also considered safe and effective for ongoing symptom relief.

In contrast, PNA, another treatment option in this trial, effectively reduces long-term knee pain and improves movement and quality of life. This treatment targets the nerves around the knee to ease pain and has been used successfully. Both treatments offer hope for managing knee OA symptoms, especially for those who haven't found relief with other methods. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

David Clinkard, MD

Principal Investigator

Queen's University

Alexandre Menard, MD

Principal Investigator

Queen's University

Steve Mann, MD

Principal Investigator

Queen's University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people over 40 with knee pain from osteoarthritis, who haven't improved after at least 3 months of non-surgical treatments and are considering knee replacement surgery. They must be able to follow the study plan and attend all check-ups.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 40 years old.

I have had knee pain from arthritis for over 6 months.

Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

My kidney function is low, with a GFR less than 30 in the last 60 days.

I have a condition like rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, or MS.

I am currently on medication that weakens my immune system.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Baseline assessment including WOMAC and NRS scores, MRI, and synovial fluid analysis

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive either genicular artery embolization, genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation, or a sham procedure

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment with WOMAC and NRS scores, MRI, and synovial fluid analysis

24 months

Phone follow-ups every 6 months, in-person visits at 3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation
• Geniculate artery embolization

Trial Overview The GENI study tests if genicular artery embolization (GAE) or genicular nerve phenol ablation (PNA) can relieve osteoarthritis symptoms better than a sham procedure. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of these three options.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Genicular artery embolization Active Control 1 Intervention

Genicular artery embolization will be performed by board certified Interventional Radiologists in the interventional radiology angiography suite at Kingston General Hospital. Patients will be blinded to which procedure they have been randomized too, careful language will be used by the clinical and research team throughout the procedure to not compromise the blinding. Patients will be positioned supine on the procedure table. The affected knee will be prepped and draped using standard sterile technique and 1-2cc of 1% lidocaine will be administered to the area for local anesthetic. A drape will be placed such that the patient is unable to see the affected knee during the procedure. Geniculate artery embolization will be performed via an intraarterial access and use of embolization microspheres injected into the hypervascular arteries feeding the knee joint.

Group II: Genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation Active Control 1 Intervention

Genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation All procedures will be performed by a fellowship trained interventional pain physician in a fluoroscopy suite in Hotel Dieu Hospital using sterile precautions. Patients will be blinded to which procedure they have been randomized too, careful language will be used by the clinical and research team throughout the procedure to not compromise the blinding. IV access and saline lock obtained per our usual clinic protocol. Patients will be positioned supine on the procedure table. The affected knee will be prepped and draped using standard sterile technique and 1-2cc of 1% lidocaine will be administered to the area for local anesthetic. Phenol nerve ablation will be performed via ultrasound guidance.

Group III: Sham procedure Placebo Group 1 Intervention

The sham procedure will be performed by a fellowship trained interventional pain physician in a fluoroscopy suite in Hotel Dieu Hospital using sterile precautions. Patients will be blinded to which procedure they have been randomized too, careful language will be used by the clinical and research team throughout the procedure to not compromise the blinding. IV access and saline lock obtained per our usual clinic protocol. The patient will be placed supine, and the appropriate knee prepped and draped using appropriate sterile technique . A drape will be placed such that the patient is unable to see the affected knee during the procedure.

Genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Genicular nerve ablation for:

• Investigational for knee osteoarthritis pain relief

Approved in European Union as Genicular nerve ablation for:

• Not approved for routine use; considered investigational for knee osteoarthritis pain relief

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

David Clinkard

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

150+

David Clinkard

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

150+

Queen's University

Collaborator

Trials

382

Recruited

122,000+

Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Collaborator

Trials

312

Recruited

112,000+

Queen's University

Collaborator

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 21 patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, genicular artery embolization (GAE) significantly reduced pain and disability compared to a sham procedure, with notable improvements observed at 1 month.

Only minor adverse events were reported, indicating that GAE is a safe intervention for treating knee pain associated with osteoarthritis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multicenter Randomized Sham Controlled Study of Genicular Artery Embolization for Knee Pain Secondary to Osteoarthritis. Bagla, S., Piechowiak, R., Sajan, A., et al.[2022]

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, with a 100% technical success rate and no major adverse events reported in a study of 16 patients.

At the 12-month follow-up, 83% of patients achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in pain, and there was a significant decrease in nerve growth factor levels, which may help explain the pain relief and potential slowing of cartilage degeneration.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Genicular Artery Embolization for Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Interim Analysis of a Prospective Pilot Trial Including Effect on Serum Osteoarthritis-Associated Biomarkers. Taslakian, B., Swilling, D., Attur, M., et al.[2023]

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a safe and effective treatment for knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, offering long-lasting pain relief for many patients.

Successful GAE requires careful attention to procedural techniques, including understanding arterial anatomy and avoiding complications, but when performed correctly, adverse events are rare.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Genicular Artery Embolization Technique. Sterbis, E., Casadaban, L.[2023]

Genicular artery embolisation (GAE) is a promising treatment for knee osteoarthritis, and understanding the anatomy of the genicular arteries is crucial for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the procedure, as demonstrated by a detailed dissection of 20 human lower limb specimens.

The study found that the descending genicular artery (DGA) is the primary vessel involved in medial osteoarthritis, with significant risks of non-target embolisation (NTE) due to anastomoses between key arteries, highlighting the need for careful planning during GAE to avoid damaging critical structures like the cruciate ligaments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cadaveric and Angiographic Anatomical Considerations in the Genicular Arterial System: Implications for Genicular Artery Embolisation in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. O'Grady, A., Welsh, L., Gibson, M., et al.[2021]

Both genicular nerve neurolysis with phenol and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) effectively reduce pain in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis, with significant pain relief observed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment.

While both techniques showed similar efficacy in pain relief, phenol neurolysis resulted in a higher rate of transient paresthesia (34.4%) compared to RFA (6.3%), suggesting that RFA may have a better safety profile.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of the efficacy of genicular nerve phenol neurolysis and radiofrequency ablation for pain management in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Yildiz, G., Perdecioglu, GRG., Yuruk, D., et al.[2023]

A new 3-needle technique for genicular nerve ablation in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis showed significantly better pain relief and improved knee function compared to the traditional single-needle method, based on a study of 50 patients.

The 3-needle approach resulted in higher patient satisfaction at all follow-up points (2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months) without any reported adverse events, indicating it is a safe and effective treatment option.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Three Needles Approach-A New Technique of Genicular Nerves Radiofrequency Ablation for Pain Relief in Advanced Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Trial. Mohamed, OS., Omar, SM., Gaber, AF., et al.[2021]

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is an effective minimally invasive treatment for knee pain due to osteoarthritis, showing significant reductions in pain scores at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure, based on a systematic review of 10 studies involving 351 treated knees.

Patients experienced substantial declines in pain, with a Hedge's g effect size indicating strong pain relief, particularly at 6 months with a score decrease of 41 points on the Visual Analog Scale, demonstrating GAE's potential as a durable pain management option for osteoarthritis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Genicular Artery Embolization as a Treatment for Osteoarthritis Related Knee Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Epelboym, Y., Mandell, JC., Collins, JE., et al.[2023]

A study of 205 patients who underwent genicular artery embolization (GAE) revealed that the anatomy of the genicular arteries is complex, with various branching patterns identified, which is crucial for effective treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) during the procedure allows for better visualization of these arteries, helping to accurately target the right vessels for embolization and reducing the risk of affecting unintended areas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Classification of Genicular Artery Anatomic Variants Using Intraoperative Cone-Beam Computed Tomography. Callese, TE., Cusumano, L., Redwood, KD., et al.[2023]

In a study of 43 patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis pain, ultrasound-guided chemical neurolysis using phenol significantly reduced pain intensity from an average of 7.2 to 4.2 on the Numeric Rating Scale over 6 months.

The treatment also led to substantial functional improvement, as indicated by a decrease in the WOMAC score from 48.7 to 20.7, with only temporary mild adverse effects such as local pain and swelling.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chemical Ablation of Genicular Nerve with Phenol for Pain Relief in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Study. Risso, RC., Ferraro, LHC., Nouer Frederico, T., et al.[2021]

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) shows promise as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis, with pain being the most commonly reported outcome in 95.8% of the 24 studies reviewed.

However, the studies exhibit significant variability in design and methodology, which limits the ability to draw strong conclusions about the efficacy and safety of GAE, highlighting the need for more standardized research protocols.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Common Design, Data Elements and Core Outcome Measures Reported on Clinical Trials of Genicular Artery Embolization for Knee Osteoarthritis: An Interactive Systematic Review. Bolsegui, ML., Ghozy, S., Kobeissi, H., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10551393/

Comparison of the efficacy of genicular nerve phenol ... Both methods of genicular nerve neurolysis effectively reduce chronic knee pain and improve function and quality of life in patients with KOA who are not ...

2. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/painmedicine/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pm/pnaf140/8277929

Efficacy and safety of genicular nerve ablation techniques for ... Genicular neurolysis, particularly conventional monopolar RFA, provides clinically meaningful pain and functional improvement in knee OA with a ...

3. bmjopen.bmj.com bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e094576

Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation, phenol ... Primary outcome is the Oxford Knee Score at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, knee pain ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1063458425008234

Efficacy and safety of minimally invasive interventions ... Minimally invasive interventions targeting the genicular nerves have been commonly used and claimed to be effective in reducing pain in individuals with knee OA ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06166628

Genicular Artery Embolization vs Nerve Ablation ... Genicular artery embolization (GAE) and genicular nerve phenol nerve ablation (PNA) have emerged as potentially successful treatments to reduce knee OA symptoms ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9971280/

Genicular artery embolization for treatment of knee ... Limited evidence suggests that GAE is a safe procedure that confers improvement in knee OA symptoms at established MCID thresholds.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0972978X25002880

Genicular artery embolization for knee osteoarthritis This systematic review aims to evaluate the current evidence on GAE for KOA, assessing its efficacy, safety profile, and comparative effectiveness against other ...

8. jvir.org jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(24)00581-5/fulltext

Genicular Artery Embolization for Treatment of ... To report the 24-month outcomes and subgroup analysis evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the genicular artery embolization (GAE) for the treatment of ...

9. aaos.org aaos.org/aaosnow/2025/aug-sept/clinical/clinical01/

Data review presents geniculate artery embolization as an ... Geniculate artery embolization (GAE) is an emerging minimally invasive technique designed to target aberrant vascular and inflammatory responses ...

10. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04472091

Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) for Osteoarthritic ... The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the safety of the geniculate artery embolization (GAE) procedure with HydroPearl® Microspheres in 30 ...