Awareness, Referral Patterns, and Barriers to Genicular Artery Embolization among Orthopaedic Surgeons, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialists, and Radiologists: A Prospective Survey Study

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is an emerging minimally invasive treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Despite promising clinical outcomes, its adoption remains limited in daily practice. This article aims to assess the awareness, referral patterns, and perceived barriers to GAE among orthopaedic surgeons, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) specialists, and radiologists. A prospective, cross-sectional survey was conducted among orthopaedic surgeons, PMR specialists, and diagnostic radiologists at a single tertiary institution. A 14-item electronic questionnaire evaluated participants' awareness of interventional radiology (IR) procedures, referral behaviors, and perceived barriers to GAE implementation. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. A total of 169 physicians completed the survey. Radiologists demonstrated the highest awareness of GAE as a treatment option (55.7%), whereas awareness was lower among orthopaedic surgeons (23.5%) and PMR specialists (22.8%). Most PMR specialists (66.7%) reported never consulting IR for musculoskeletal interventions, compared with 11.8% of orthopaedic surgeons. The most frequently cited barriers to GAE referral were lack of knowledge (19.2%) and scheduling or coordination difficulties (10.4%). Although platelet-rich plasma injections were more commonly preferred, interest in GAE education was high. In-person workshops (50.8%) and webinars (49.1%) were identified as the most preferred learning formats. Significant knowledge gaps regarding GAE persist, particularly among orthopaedic surgeons and PMR specialists. Targeted education and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration may improve awareness and referral patterns and support the integration of GAE into clinical practice.