What are 2025's Top Knee Replacement Alternatives?

If you have osteoarthritis of the knee and you want to find relief, there are knee replacement alternatives. And, due to medical advancements, many relieve pain without surgery. Today, we'll explore several options gaining popularity in 2025.

Genicular artery embolization (GAE): Proven knee replacement alternatives

GAE is a non-surgical knee replacement alternative that our Interventional Radiologists perform at the Georgie Knee Institute. The procedure relieves arthritis pain and inflammation by restricting blood flow to the affected knee joint lining. Backed by science, this 2020 study shows that GAE can effective relieve or reduce moderate to severe osteoarthritis knee pain. And it may prevent disease progression and limits on mobility.

New Findings on Metformin

Scientists at Monash University shared new research on the diabetes drug Metformin. They found that obese or overweight diabetic patients could relieve OA knee pain by taking this medication. Now, they emphasized that the small study size (of just 107 participants) meant that the study should be repeated with a larger sample size. Still, chief researcher Professor Flavia Cicuttini noted this could provide an important alternative to knee replacement surgery. And that's a big deal, since she noted that “Patient dissatisfaction with knee replacements is already high at between 20-30 per cent, even when the operation is technically perfect. Dissatisfaction rates are highest when the operation is done for early knee OA... The best outcome for patients is to delay the knee replacements until it is absolutely needed.”

In-Ear Nerve Stimulation: An Emerging Option

Emphasizing the importance of finding more knee replacement alternatives, the team at UT El Paso is investigating in-ear vagus nerve stimulation for OA knee pain relief. Already, their trials found that 37% of patients found significant relief from this treatment. And it was non-invasive, with no significant side effects. Moving forward, future trials hope to confim that the relief was not the result of a placebo effect.

Injections for Arthritis Knee Pain

Some patients prefer injectible knee replacement alternatives. One option involves injecting hyaluronic acid to the inflamed joint, providing lubrication and shock absorption to reduce pain. However, the Arthritis Foundation does not endorse this treatment due to limited research.

The same is true for dextrose solution injections, which are supposed to fight osteoarthritis knee pain. through the power of regenerative medicine. In theory, this injection sends reparitive blood flow to the knee, reducing pain and stiffness. But, again, it is not Arthritis Foundation endorsed.

Now, patients with mild to moderate arthritis knee pain may reduce pain and boost mobility with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. With results that last up to one year, this injection stimulates your body's own healing ability. However, more research is needed to confirm its efficacy for knee pain due to arthritis.

Knee replacement alternatives backed by research

We know you want to relieve your knee pain without having surgery. But we also know that you want knee replacement alternatives that have been well researched. And that's exactly what we provide! Click here to request an appointment at the Georgia Knee Institute and discover if you're a candidate for GAE!