| Institution: | 1. Department of Medical Imaging, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;2. Department of Orthopedics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;3. Skeleton Materials and Biocompatibility Core Lab, Research Center of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan;5. Department of Medical Imaging, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;6. School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;7. Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;8. Department of Orthopedics, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan |
| Abstract: | PurposeTo evaluate the short-term outcomes of genicular artery embolization (GAE) for knee osteoarthritis (OA) with and without bone marrow lesion (BML) and/or subchondral insufficiency fracture of the knee (SIFK).Materials and MethodsThis single-institution prospective observational pilot study analyzed 24 knees in 22 patients with mild to moderate knee OA, including 8 knees without BML, 13 knees with BML, and 3 knees with both BML and SIFK. The area and volume of BMLs on magnetic resonance images were measured before and after GAE. Baseline and postoperative pain and physical function were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).ResultsGAE significantly reduced the BML area and volume 3 months after embolization in the knees with BML (both P < .0005). GAE significantly decreased the VAS scores at 3 and 6 months after embolization in patients without BML (both P = .04) and those with BML (both P = .01). GAE also lowered the WOMAC scores 3 months after embolization in patients without and with BML (P = .02 and P = .0002, respectively). However, GAE did not significantly alter the BML area and volume (both P = .25), VAS scores (P = 1.00), and WOMAC scores (P = .08) in patients with BML and SIFK at 3 months after GAE.ConclusionsThis observational pilot study suggested that GAE effectively reduces the BML area and volume and improves pain and physical function in patients with knee OA accompanied by BML but is inefficacious in those with both BML and SIFK. |
