Genicular Nerve Ablation
Genicular neurotomy (aka nerve ablation) is an innovative option for treating knee pain without surgery. Since genicular nerve ablation does not use steroids, it is ideal for patients with high blood pressure and diabetes.
How the Procedure Works
The genicular nerves are the nerves that provide sensation and pain in the knee joint.
Typically, three branches are targeted with the genicular nerve block – the superior medial, the superior lateral, and the interior medial genicular nerves. The procedure uses a breakthrough technology called radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to stun the painful nerves and prevent the signals from reaching the brain.
RFA harnesses the energy of radio waves to treat pain at the source without incisions. With RFA, there is also no need for steroid or cortisone injections, making it ideal for patients with high blood pressure and diabetes.
This procedure is used for a variety of conditions, including:
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Chronic Knee Pain
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Total Knee Replacement (before or after)
- Partial Knee Replacement (before or after)
- Patients unfit for knee replacement
- Patients who want to avoid a knee replacement
Benefits of genicular neurotomy:
- Inexpensive and covered by most insurance
- Performed in your doctor’s office
- Outpatient procedure
- This can be done with local anesthetic only
- Minimal risk of infection
- No need for blood thinners
- Virtually non-existent recovery period
- In many cases, they can go back to work the same day
- Little to no postoperative pain, typically controlled with NSAIDs
- Can return to normal activities in a matter of days
This information was found on the Ainsworth Institute website.