Transcatheter embolisation in chronic musculoskeletal disorders

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Musculoskeletal Medicine
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Chronic musculoskeletal conditions cause significant disability and economic burden.
• Existing treatments are insufficient for many patients.
• Transcatheter embolisation is an emerging option for refractory cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the rationale behind musculoskeletal transcatheter embolisation.
• To describe the embolisation technique for musculoskeletal conditions.
• To present the latest evidence on its efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of transcatheter embolisation in musculoskeletal conditions.
• Focus on conditions like knee osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis, and tendinopathy.
• Analysis of studies demonstrating improvements in pain and function.

Main Results:

• Pathological neovascularisation is a key target for embolisation.
• Embolisation has shown promise in improving pain and function.
• Evidence supports its use in specific chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Conclusions:

• Transcatheter embolisation is a viable treatment for select patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
• The procedure exploits abnormal vascular growth for therapeutic benefit.
• Further research and adoption of this technique are warranted.