Joint embolisation – a new method for treating chronic joint pain

Joint pain and discomfort in the area of tendon attachments

Many people suffer from chronic joint pain, whether due to osteoarthritis or degenerative tendon disorders (tendopathies), which cannot always be adequately treated conservatively. A new, minimally invasive treatment method can help here: joint embolisation, also known as transarterial periarticular embolisation (TAPE).

Chronic pain associated with chronic inflammation leads to the formation of numerous new, tiny blood vessels, which cause an abnormal increase in blood flow and overstimulate the nerves in this area. This excess release of inflammatory factors maintains the pain and may even intensify it.

How does joint embolisation work?

Joint embolisation is a new and innovative procedure in interventional radiology. It is an extremely gentle procedure in which these inflamed and diseased blood vessels are specifically closed off (embolisation). It is a minimally invasive method, so anaesthesia is not necessary as the procedure is painless. The patient receives a local anaesthetic and is treated under sterile conditions.

The procedure is as follows: a thin catheter is inserted into the artery via a small incision – usually in the groin, but also possible via the wrist – and advanced to the affected vessels around the joint. Tiny particles (known as embolisates) are injected there to close off these excess vessels. Normal blood flow to the joint is maintained. This reduces the oversupply of blood and oxygen to the diseased nerves in the joint membranes or tendons, which prevents the transmission of pain impulses. After the procedure, only a small dot is visible at the puncture site.

The treatment usually takes less than two hours and is often performed on an outpatient basis or with a short stay in hospital. Many patients report significant pain relief shortly after the procedure.

At Rudolfinerhaus, leading specialists in interventional radiology Assoc. Prof. PD Dr Florian Wolf, MBA and OA Dr Wolfgang Matzek offer this modern and highly effective treatment method.

Who is joint embolisation suitable for?

This method is particularly helpful for patients with

• Osteoarthritis of the knee (gonarthrosis)
• Osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis)
• Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint (omarthrosis)
• Frozen shoulder (a condition affecting the shoulder joint capsule)
• Therapy-resistant tendon disorders or
• Postoperative pain syndromes

After a complete orthopaedic assessment by a specialist and after exhausting all conservative treatment methods, your specialist may recommend this treatment in consultation with a radiologist experienced in TAPE.

TAPE is particularly suitable for people who have not responded adequately to other therapies, such as medication, injections or physiotherapy, or who still suffer from pain after surgery.