Musculoskeletal Interventional RadiologyA New Era in the Treatment of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
From genicular artery embolisation to emerging applications across the musculoskeletal system — an evidence-based, multidisciplinary dialogue on IR’s expanding role in chronic pain management.
About This Webinar
Chronic musculoskeletal pain has long been managed rather than treated. Channelled through traditional conservative pathways, often awaiting an eventual surgical referral that may never materialise, many patients are locked in a cycle of persistent symptoms and diminishing therapeutic returns.
Yet a new therapeutic horizon is emerging. Building on the pioneering work of Yuji Okuno in Japan, musculoskeletal embolisation offers a fundamentally different approach. By selectively targeting the abnormal neovascular networks that sustain chronic inflammation and pain signalling, these procedures aim to address the underlying pathophysiology rather than simply mask symptoms.
From genicular artery embolisation (GAE) for knee osteoarthritis to emerging applications in adhesive capsulitis, refractory plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis, and greater trochanteric pain syndrome, the evidence base is growing, and the clinical case is compelling.
For the South African context — where surgical waiting lists are long, patient access to theatre is constrained, and the burden of degenerative joint disease is substantial — these techniques represent not just a clinical frontier, but a practical and scalable alternative.
In this final clinical session of our second year, session chair Dr Dale Creamer, Head of Interventional Radiology at Groote Schuur Hospital, will be joined by Professor Marc Nortje, Head of Arthroplasty at Groote Schuur Hospital, alongside international experts Dr Frederico Cavalheiro, an Interventional Radiologist from Portugal with a dedicated focus on musculoskeletal embolization, and Mr Amr Elkhouly, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in the UK.
Together, they will explore the current evidence, patient selection criteria, procedural principles, and emerging multidisciplinary pathways that are positioning interventional radiology at the intersection of orthopaedics, pain medicine, and rheumatology.
This evolution in care marks a move toward truly disease-modifying, minimally invasive interventions in chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Don’t miss this session!
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1Explain the pathophysiological basis of musculoskeletal embolisation — specifically the role of abnormal neovascularity and its relationship to chronic pain signalling in conditions such as knee osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis, and enthesopathies.
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2Describe the evidence base for genicular artery embolisation (GAE), including key trial data on pain outcomes, functional improvement, and patient selection, with reference to international findings and their applicability in the South African setting.
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3Identify appropriate candidates for MSK embolisation procedures, including clinical and imaging criteria, and recognise conditions where embolisation offers a viable alternative or bridge to surgical intervention.
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4Outline the procedural approach to GAE and related MSK embolisation techniques, including vascular access, angiographic anatomy, embolic agent selection, and post-procedural management principles.
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5Apply a structured referral framework for patients presenting with refractory musculoskeletal pain syndromes — including lateral epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, and greater trochanteric pain syndrome — where embolisation may be considered.
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6Discuss the multidisciplinary landscape surrounding MSK IR, including how interventional radiologists, orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, and pain specialists can collaborate to optimise patient pathways and outcomes.
Meet the Panel
A multidisciplinary faculty bringing local & global MSK expertise to a South African clinical dialogue.
Groote Schuur Hospital
Groote Schuur Hospital
International Faculty
United Kingdom
