Genicular Artery Embolization Eliminates 16 Years of Knee Pain
After years of unsuccessful treatments, Patricia Gordon found lasting relief through a minimally invasive procedure at Mount Sinai West
For nearly 16 years, knee pain was a constant part of Patricia Gordon’s life. At 69, she found that even activities like walking around her home had become difficult. Diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, Patricia had tried nearly every conventional treatment, including pain medications and physical therapy. For several years, injections provided temporary relief. But eventually even those stopped working. Although knee replacement surgery was an option, Patricia hoped to find a less invasive solution.
Her pain continued to worsen, and she eventually had to rely on a cane. In 2025, Patricia noticed information in her MyMount Sinai patient app about genicular artery embolization (GAE), an innovative, minimally invasive treatment for chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
In July 2025, Patricia met with Dan Shilo, MD, Director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Mount Sinai West, to learn whether GAE might work for her.
A New Approach to Treating Knee Arthritis
Dr. Shilo explained that GAE works by targeting the abnormal blood vessels associated with inflammation in the arthritic knee.
“Unlike traditional surgical treatments, GAE allows us to address an important source of arthritis-related pain without removing or replacing any part of the joint,” Dr. Shilo says. “It's a minimally invasive option that can provide real relief for patients who haven't responded to conservative treatments and want to avoid or delay knee replacement surgery.”
During the procedure, Dr. Shilo guided a tiny tube, called a catheter, through the blood vessels supplying the knee. The goal was to reduce the abnormal blood flow in the inflamed areas of the joint. By doing so, GAE can greatly lower pain and improve function.
GAE does not reverse cartilage damage or cure osteoarthritis. But, for the right patient, it can offer significant pain relief. It also does not get in the way of future treatment options, including knee replacement.
“Many patients have never heard of genicular artery embolization, even after years of struggling with knee pain,” Dr. Shilo says. “One of the most rewarding parts of interventional radiology is being able to offer patients effective treatment options they didn't know existed.”
From Severe Pain to Walking Without a Cane
Patricia underwent GAE on her left knee in July 2025. Dr. Shilo performed the procedure through a tiny puncture in her groin. This type of surgery avoids the large incisions or long recovery that often come with major surgery.
Patricia returned home that same afternoon with only a small bandage at the catheter entry site. What happened next exceeded her expectations. “I walked out of there with no pain at all—the pain went from a 10 to a zero,” Patricia recalls. “When I got up to go to the bathroom, I was surprised I didn't have to hold onto anything to walk across the floor.”
After experiencing such improvement in her left knee, Patricia returned to Mount Sinai West in February 2026 to have the same procedure on her right knee.
As she approached her 70th birthday, Patricia was walking without the knee pain that had limited her life for more than a decade. “I do still feel some discomfort at times when going up and down stairs and standing from sitting,” Patricia says. “But I don’t have the constant pain I used to have.”
For patients like Patricia, GAE represents an important addition to the growing range of minimally invasive treatments for osteoarthritis—offering the possibility of meaningful pain relief, improved mobility, and a return to everyday activities without major surgery.
“Dr. Shilo and everyone else was very nice, very helpful, very accommodating both times,” Patricia says. She is encouraging family members to explore the treatment. “Now I'm trying to convince my younger sister to get her knees done.”