We reviewed the RPA experience and the literature on knee embolisation which is fairly established for treatment of recurrent bleeding, especially in the post knee replacement population.
I am interested in this area due to recent research from Japan and the US on using the same technique to reduce pain in patient with knee arthritis who are waiting for knee replacements or don’t want to yet undergo a replacement. The theory is that the synovium which produces inflammatory mediators is overgrown and hypervascular in both conditions can be reduced by embolisation.
Long term painkillers use can have its own complications and a minimally invasive therapy if effective in pain reduction would fit well into a gap between painkillers and knee replacement to reduce dependence on painkillers. This needs more study, especially in Australia.
