Forschung & Innovation
Publikationen
Chronic Pain Following Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Alle Autor*innen
Guido Bocchino, Riccardo Totti, Rocco Maria Comodo, Chiara Barbieri, Alessandro El Motassime, Davide Messina, Vincenzo De Santis, Matteo Cappucci
Fachzeitschrift
Applied Sciences-basel
Kurzfassung
Featured Application Genicular artery embolization (GAE) using Imipenem/Cilastatin may represent a valuable minimally invasive alternative for managing chronic pain after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) when mechanical failure and infection are excluded. This technique can be applied in interventional radiology settings to reduce synovial hypervascularization and inflammation, offering durable pain relief in patients who are not eligible for revision surgery.Abstract Background: Chronic pain after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) represents a significant clinical issue, often unrelated to mechanical causes and resistant to standard therapies. This work combines a narrative review and a case report to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying persistent post-UKA pain and to propose genicular artery embolization (GAE) with Imipenem/Cilastatin (IPM/CS) as a novel minimally invasive treatment option. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to analyze current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to chronic post-UKA pain, with emphasis on vascular and inflammatory mechanisms. Additionally, a patient with chronic lateral knee pain refractory to conservative management underwent selective GAE targeting hypervascularized genicular branches. Results: Following the procedure, the patient experienced substantial and sustained pain reduction, functional improvement, and no complications. The literature supports synovial neovascularization as a potential pain generator and confirms the safety of IPM/CS due to its transient embolic effect and preservation of normal perfusion. Conclusions: The combination of literature review and clinical evidence suggests that GAE may represent a promising therapeutic alternative for chronic post-UKA pain. Further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy, long-term outcomes, and appropriate indications within this challenging clinical setting.
Keywords
NEOVASCULARIZATION, Chronic pain, Genicular artery embolization, Imipenem/cilastatin, Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty