Musculoskeletal Embolization Paris

Key Facts at a Glance

70–80% pain reduction at 3–6 months
Calibrated microspheres 75–150 µm

Musculoskeletal embolization

Musculoskeletal embolization targets pathological neovascularisation — abnormal new blood vessels that develop in painful joints and tendons, accompanied by nerve fibres that transmit pain signals. By selectively embolizing these micro-vessels with calibrated microspheres (75–150 µm), the inflammatory pain cycle is interrupted without affecting normal tissue.

This technique, pioneered by Professor Okuno (Japan), is offered at Cochin AP-HP for chronic pain of the knee (osteoarthritis), shoulder (frozen shoulder/capsulitis), ankle, wrist, and tendinopathies (tennis elbow, Achilles), all refractory to conventional treatment.

Applications

🦵 Knee (genicular artery embolization)

Grade II–III osteoarthritis. 70–80% pain reduction at 3–6 months. Alternative to or bridge before total knee replacement.

💪 Shoulder (frozen shoulder/capsulitis)

Capsulitis refractory to physiotherapy and injections. 70–80% pain reduction with restored mobility.

🦶 Ankle (arthritis/tendinopathy)

Tibiotalar osteoarthritis, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis refractory to standard treatment.

🤲 Wrist/elbow

Radiocarpal arthritis, de Quervain tenosynovitis, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) — refractory to injections and physiotherapy.

→ Knee embolization → Tennis elbow embolization

🇫🇷 French version: embolisation-articulations-inflammatoires.html

Why this page is trustworthy

Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.

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Musculoskeletal Embolization — Knee, Shoulder, Ankle, Wrist

Musculoskeletal Embolization — Knee, Shoulder, Ankle, Wrist

Key Facts at a Glance