Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41703105›Full record

ArticleCardiovascular and interventional radiology2026

Safety and Feasibility of Genicular Artery Embolization with Degradable Starch Microspheres for Knee Osteoarthritis: A One Year Experience and Preliminary Clinical Results.

Aleksejs Zolovkins, Gianluigi Orgera, Giuseppe Campagna, Miltiadis Krokidis, Andrea Marcello Tipaldi, Eleonora Latini, Edoardo Ronconi, Michele Rossi

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cardiovascular and interventional radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Aleksejs ZolovkinsInterventional Radiology Unit, "Sapienza" University Hospital Sant'Andrea, Di Grottarossa Street 1034-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy. aleksej@libero.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-1148-4338
Gianluigi OrgeraInterventional Radiology Unit, "Sapienza" University Hospital Sant'Andrea, Di Grottarossa Street 1034-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Giuseppe CampagnaDepartment of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine and Psychology, "Sapienza" University, Di Grottarossa Street 1034-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Miltiadis Krokidis1St Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Andrea Marcello TipaldiInterventional Radiology Unit, "Sapienza" University Hospital Sant'Andrea, Di Grottarossa Street 1034-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy. tipaldi.andrea@gmail.com.
Eleonora LatiniPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, "Sapienza" University Hospital Sant'Andrea, Di Grottarossa Street 1034-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Edoardo RonconiInterventional Radiology Unit, "Sapienza" University Hospital Sant'Andrea, Di Grottarossa Street 1034-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy.
Michele RossiInterventional Radiology Unit, "Sapienza" University Hospital Sant'Andrea, Di Grottarossa Street 1034-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of genicular artery embolization (GAE) using degradable starch microspheres in patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis (OA) refractory to conservative therapies. MATERIALS AND

methodsSixteen patients (19 knees) with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-4 osteoarthritis and persistent symptoms despite standard therapies were treated with genicular arteries embolization procedure using degradable starch microspheres. Adverse events were recorded using the CIRSE classification system. Pain and function were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at baseline, 48 h, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months. Clinical success was defined as ≥ 50% improvement in both VAS and WOMAC scores from baseline.

resultsNo minor or major complications were observed. Transient skin changes around the treated knee were observed in all patients and resolved spontaneously within 2 h. Clinical success was achieved in 89,5% of knees at 48 h, in 84,2% at 1 month, and in 68,4% at 6 and 12 months. Mean VAS scores decreased from 7.2 ± 1.1 to 2.5 ± 1.3 at 1 month (p < 0.0001) and to 3.3 ± 1.5 at 6-12 months (p < 0.0001). WOMAC scores improved from 68.4 ± 9.2 to 25.1 ± 10.4 at 1 month (p < 0.0001) and to 38.4 ± 11.6 at 6-12 months (p < 0.0001).

conclusionGAE using degradable starch microspheres is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for symptomatic relief and functional improvement in patients with moderate to severe knee OA refractory to other therapies. Evidence level 3.

Indexed as

Embolization, TherapeuticOsteoarthritis, KneeStarchAgedFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansKnee JointMaleMicrospheresMiddle AgedPain MeasurementTreatment Outcomedegradable starch microspheresStarchDegradable starch microspheresEmbolizationGenicular arteryKnee osteoarthritisMinimally invasive therapy

Identifiers

PMID41703105

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.