Knee osteoarthritis affects millions worldwide, yet for many people there remains a treatment gap — a stage where symptoms persist despite physiotherapy, medication, or injections, but joint replacement is not yet appropriate.
A major new clinical trial, known as GEKO (Genicular Artery Embolisation for Knee Osteoarthritis), has officially launched at NDORMS. The study explores a new approach called genicular artery embolisation (GAE), a procedure that targets abnormal blood vessels around the knee to reduce inflammation and pain.
The GEKO trial will recruit around 216 participants across several UK sites, comparing the outcomes of those receiving the embolisation procedure with a control group. Researchers will assess pain, function, and imaging outcomes to better understand how the treatment works and who might benefit most.