Dr. Charles Nutting has been at the forefront of interventional radiology since he began practicing over 25 years ago. He is internationally recognized and has introduced many procedures and devices to North America. Dr. Nutting’s latest cutting-edge procedure is called knee embolization, a treatment that may be able to alleviate chronic knee pain using genicular artery embolization (GAE).
Learning & Teaching Knee Embolization
In May 2022, Dr. Nutting was invited to visit renowned interventional radiologists Dr. Ari Isaacson and Dr. Sandeep Bagla at the Prostate Centers in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Isaacson and Dr. Bagla have published numerous medical journals and helped pioneer this treatment and other minimally invasive procedures in the US.
Their most recent publication demonstrated that Knee Embolization (GAE) provides significant pain and mobility relief compared to a SHAM procedure. A SHAM procedure is a placebo surgery that provides relief in about half of all patients.
“The GAE techniques are similar to outpatient prostate and liver embolizations that I perform daily,” said Dr. Nutting, who has been collaborating with these physicians over the last decade to improve treatments. “Training with the US experts provides continuity and standardization for our patients.”
Dr. Nutting is currently preparing a lecture for the American Osteopathic College of Radiology (AOCR) covering embolization therapies including knee and prostate embolization. This information will be presented through an online course in July 2022.
Servicing Knee Embolization in Denver
Dr. Nutting is currently evaluating patients and performing the outpatient knee embolization procedure at ECCO Medical. This treatment is also called Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE). GAE is a non-surgical procedure designed to block blood flow to parts of the knee that are inflamed from osteoarthritis (OA).
The doctor inserts a catheter through a small incision to access the affected arteries. Next, the doctor injects tiny particles into the capillaries to create a blockage, leaving the rest of the blood flow to the knee unaffected. This is an embolization. The 90-minute (or less) procedure only requires moderate sedation with patients discharged on the same day. Most patients begin to feel relief from knee pain in a few short weeks.
“I have performed thousands of outpatient embolizations. Our patients are amazed that these procedures are achieved without incisions leading to a quicker and less painful recovery than traditional surgery,” said Dr. Nutting. “When evaluating patients for knee embolization, I work collaboratively with orthopedic surgeons, primary care, and interventional pain doctors in Colorado.”
Talk to your doctor about endovascular treatment at ECCO Medical or contact us HERE. Our expert physicians will help you determine if knee embolization is right for you.
ECCO Medical – 8080 Park Meadows Dr. Suite 150, Lone Tree, CO 80124
