Finally! A Cost-Effective Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

Finding knee pain relief for osteoarthritis can be a costly endeavor. Many options, including physical therapy and injected medications, require ongoing expenses…and, often, they don’t even provide lasting relief. Want to reduce the pain of knee osteoarthritis and preserve your mobility without breaking the bank or going under the knife? It’s time to explore genicular artery embolization (GAE), a minimally invasive procedure that was recently deemed a cost-effective knee osteoarthritis treatment by the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).

The Cost of Resolving Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis

More than 80% of people with osteoarthritis experience joint pain in their knees. And, according to this 2024 study, providing patients with knee pain relief costs more than $80 billion. Of course, there are a variety of ways to treat knee osteoarthritis, and some will be more expensive (and more effective) than others. But, for the purposes of the review in AJR, study authors compared the costs and results associated with GAE, RFA [radiofrequency ablation] and CS [corticosteroid injection] over a period of four-years. And here’s what they discovered.

GAE: A Cost-Effective Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment

What do GAE, RFA and CS all have in common? They can all relieve osteoarthritis pain without surgery. As such, researchers decided to compare their relative costs, along with the relief each option could provide. And, over the four-year study period, researchers discovered that “GAE was consistently the most likely cost-effective treatment option compared to RFA and CS.” As such, the authors noted that this information would be helpful for patients seeking knee pain relief among a growing range of available treatment options.

Now, the exact cost of the GAE procedure will depend on a variety of factors, including your personal insurance plan. But here’s what we want you to know: this minimally invasive procedure can improve your quality of life, allowing you to find pain relief without surgery. And, whether you have questions about the cost of GAE or your candidacy for this procedure, we’re here to help. Simply request a consultation request a consultation request a consultation with our team at the Texas Knee Institute.