713-489-6319 HOUSTON
469-343-0265 DALLAS
713-489-6319 HOUSTON
469-343-0265 DALLAS
4747 Bellaire Blvd #550, Bellaire, TX 77401
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Contact us:
Phone: (713) 489-6319
Fax: (713) 575-3688
Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Texas Endovascular, (with its sister brand Texas Knee Institute), treats knee pain at our Houston clinic, an outpatient interventional radiology clinic at 4747 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 550, Bellaire, TX 77401, just west of Loop 610. Dr. William Fox, co-founder of the practice and the clinic's medical director, along with three other board-certified interventional radiologists treat knee osteoarthritis pain here with genicular artery embolization (GAE), a minimally invasive option for patients who want to avoid or delay knee replacement.
Knee osteoarthritis is the gradual wear of the cartilage that cushions your knee. As it progresses, the joint lining (synovium) becomes inflamed and grows abnormal blood vessels that keep the pain going.
Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is an outpatient, image-guided procedure that reduces blood flow to those abnormal vessels, calming the inflammation and easing pain. It doesn't cut into or replace any part of the knee, and it doesn't rebuild cartilage. Learn more about knee osteoarthritis →
GAE is usually considered when you have:
Sudden, severe knee swelling, redness, warmth, or fever, or being unable to put weight on your leg, can signal an infection or injury rather than arthritis and needs prompt medical care.
Outpatient, home the same day
No incision on the knee and no general anesthesia
Typical activities the next day, with no physical therapy required
Can be repeated if pain returns
In a 2024 study presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, patients' pain scores improved by 71% and quality-of-life scores by 87% one year after GAE.
Dr. William Fox, the clinic's medical director, leads joint pain care in Houston with Dr. Eric Hardee, Dr. Ryan Armstrong, and Dr. AJ Valenson. All four are board-certified interventional radiologists. Our physicians rotate between clinics, so ask when you call if you would like to see a specific doctor.
Yes. The Houston clinic evaluates knee osteoarthritis pain and offers GAE. Your physician reviews your X-rays or MRI and the treatments you've already tried before recommending it.
GAE is an outpatient, image-guided procedure for knee osteoarthritis pain. A thin catheter is used to place microscopic particles in the small arteries feeding the inflamed knee lining, which reduces abnormal blood flow and calms the inflammation behind the pain. It does not cut into the knee or rebuild cartilage.
Good candidates have knee osteoarthritis confirmed by exam and X-ray or MRI, moderate to severe pain that hasn't improved with medication, injections, or physical therapy, and mild to moderate arthritis rather than near-total cartilage loss. Many want to avoid or delay knee replacement, or are not surgical candidates. Not sure if you're a candidate? Take our short quiz to find out.
Knee replacement is surgery that removes and replaces damaged parts of the joint, with general anesthesia and weeks to months of recovery. GAE is done through a small puncture with local numbing, with no incision on the knee, and most patients go home the same day. GAE treats pain from inflammation; it does not repair the joint itself.
You stay awake with local numbing. Through a small puncture in the groin or ankle, your physician guides a thin catheter to the arteries around the knee using live X-ray imaging, then releases microscopic particles to reduce blood flow to the inflamed lining. The procedure usually takes one to two hours.
Most patients walk within a few hours, go home the same day, and return to typical activities the next day. Physical therapy is not required. Mild bruising or soreness near the puncture site or knee usually fades within a few weeks.
Pain relief typically begins within four to six weeks and keeps improving over several months. In published studies, many patients report relief lasting two years or longer, and GAE can be repeated if pain returns.
Medicare and most major insurance plans cover GAE when it is medically necessary. Our team verifies your benefits, handles prior authorization, and explains what you can expect to pay before your procedure is scheduled.
No. You can schedule a consultation at our Houston clinic without a physician referral. Call (713) 489-6319 or request an appointment online, and our team will verify your insurance benefits before your visit.
We are at 4747 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 550, Bellaire, TX 77401, just west of Loop 610. Call (713) 489-6319 for directions.
Scheduling
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