Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of selective arterial embolization for refractory knee hemarthrosis.
Materials and methods: Transcatheter arterial embolization for refractory knee hemarthrosis was performed on five female patients (median age, 77 years; range, 71-80 years) between May 2009 and September 2012. Selective arterial embolization of the feeding artery was performed using a 2.5 F microcatheter coaxially advanced from a 5 F catheter with its tip positioned in the superficial femoral artery. One- or two-millimeter gelatin particles were used as embolic agents.
Results: In all patients, transarterial embolization performed successfully after arteriography showed nontumorous staining around the knee joint. The feeding arteries were the lateral superior genicular artery in all five patients, the lateral inferior genicular artery in four patients, the medial superior genicular artery in one patient, the medial inferior genicular artery in one patient, the middle genicular artery in one patient, and the descending genicular artery in one patient. In all five patients, staining was remarkably diminished around the knee joint after the embolization procedure. No complication was observed. The hemarthrosis improved after the embolization, and the postoperative course has been uneventful with no recurrence in any patient.
Conclusion: These results suggest that selective arterial embolization for refractory hemarthrosis of the knee is safe and useful.