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The procedure, explained simply

How joint embolization works

It sounds high-tech — and it is — but the idea is simple: calm the inflammation that's causing your pain, through a pinhole, with no surgery.

Watch: genicular artery embolization explained in about a minute.
Illustration of the access point: a thin, flexible catheter enters through a tiny pinhole at the top of the foot — similar to having an IV placed.
It starts like an IV: a tiny pinhole at the top of the foot (or the wrist, for shoulders). No incision, no stitches.
The Embolix team performing an embolization procedure, guiding the catheter while watching the live X-ray screen.
Our team at work: your physician steers the catheter while watching a live X-ray screen — precisely treating only the arteries feeding your pain.
1

Finding the source

Chronic inflammation makes your body grow tiny, abnormal blood vessels in the joint — and they feed even more inflammation, a self-worsening cycle. Painful new nerves grow in alongside them. Your interventional radiologist maps these vessels using live imaging.

2

A pinhole, not an incision

Through a tiny pinhole in the foot, a catheter thinner than a spaghetti noodle is guided up to the exact arteries feeding your pain. You're awake but relaxed with light sedation.

3

Calming the inflammation & pain

Microscopic particles are released to gently reduce the abnormal blood flow. That breaks the cycle — quieting both the inflammation and the painful nerves it was feeding, so the pain eases at its source.

4

Home in about an hour

The pinhole needs only a bandage. You head home about an hour after your procedure, and most people are back to normal activity the next day.

5

Relief that builds

As inflammation settles over the following weeks, many patients feel steadily improving pain relief. Results vary, and your team will follow up with you.

Your timeline, start to finish

Most of it happens in a single morning — and the relief keeps building for weeks.

🌅 Arrive morning 🎯 Procedure ~30 min 🏡 Home ~1 hr after 🚶 Normal activity the next day 💚 Relief builds 2–4 weeks
A ~30-minute outpatient procedure, no general anesthesia, home about an hour after — with relief that grows as inflammation settles. Individual results vary.

Is it safe?

Embolization has been used in medicine for decades. For joints, it's minimally invasive with a strong safety profile.

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No general anesthesia

Just light sedation and local numbing — lower risk than surgery under general anesthesia.

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Precise & targeted

Live imaging lets the physician treat only the vessels causing pain, sparing healthy tissue.

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Backed by evidence

Supported by growing clinical research and 2026 specialty-society guidance. Side effects are usually minor and temporary.

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