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Blocking knee arteries to treat lasting pain in severe knee osteoarthritis

Compares genicular artery embolization with usual care for knee pain in severe osteoarthritis.

Key facts

Who runs it
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center
Where
Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Evaluating the Role of Genicular Artery Embolization in Treatment of Persistent Pain in Patients With Severe Knee Osteoarthritis
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
60 people, planned
Started
4 Jul 2024
Expected to end
30 Sept 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • embolization therapy
  • Conservative treatment
Record updated
19 August 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with severe knee osteoarthritis and lasting knee pain who need knee surgery but cannot have it because of other health problems.

Age
18 years or older
Sex
All sexes can join
Disease stage
Knee osteoarthritis with a Kellgren-Lawrence grade of 3 or higher. Knee pain that has lasted despite conservative treatment for at least 3 months.
Earlier treatment
Must have tried conservative treatment (NSAIDs, physiotherapy, weight reduction programs, intra-articular injections) for at least 3 months without relief. No injection into the affected knee within the previous 6 months. No previous knee replacement in the affected knee.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Previous knee replacement (arthroplasty) in the affected knee
  • Known cancer, local infection or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Joint injection in the affected knee within the previous 6 months
  • Body weight greater than 150 kg (331 lb)
  • Kidney problems, blood clotting problems that cannot be reversed, or peripheral vascular disease

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 5 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Adults aged 18 years or older of either sex. Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis with a Kellgren-Lawrence grade of 3 or higher. Persistent knee pain resistant to conservative treatment for at least 3 months. Conservative treatment includes NSAIDs, physiotherapy, weight reduction programs, and intra-articular injections
  • Patients with multiple comorbidities who are indicated for operative treatment, such as total knee arthroplasty, for pain management but are unable to undergo surgery due to their medical status

Who cannot take part

  • Previous knee arthroplasty in the affected knee. Known malignancy. Local infection. Rheumatoid arthritis. Intra-articular injection in the affected knee within the previous 6 months. Body weight greater than 150 kg. Renal impairment. Irreversible coagulopathy. Peripheral vascular disease
  • Study Population:
  • Patients will be recruited from King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Where in Saudi Arabia

  • King Abdullah International Medical Research CenterJeddah, Saudi ArabiaContact: IRB OfficeTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the role of genicular artery embolization (GAE) in treating persistent pain in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis who have failed conservative treatment and may be unable to undergo surgical treatment because of significant medical commodities. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Read full original descriptionShow less

Does genicular artery embolization reduce persistent knee pain in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis?

Researchers will compare patients who undergo genicular artery embolization with patients who continue conservative treatment, including NSAIDs, physiotherapy, weight reduction programs, and intra-articular injections, to evaluate differences in pain.

Participants will:

* Undergo assessment of knee pain and function using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score before treatment. * Be randomly assigned to either genicular artery embolization or continued conservative treatment. * Have pain and functional outcomes assessed before treatment and at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the intervention.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Intervention Arm of genicular artery embolizationTreatment being tested

    Treatment: embolization therapy

  • Control arm of conservative managementExisting treatment, for comparison

    Treatment: Conservative treatment

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

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Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Prospective Randomized Trial Evaluating the Role of Genicular Artery Embolization in Treatment of Persistent Pain in Patients With Severe Knee Osteoarthritis
Plain-language title
Blocking knee arteries to treat lasting pain in severe knee osteoarthritisGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
19 August 2026