Mapping Genicular Nerve Endings for Optimal Pain Management: A Comparative Cadaveric Analysis Between Native Versus Prosthetic Knee

Clicks: 10
ID: 330011
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal
Emerging

Ranked #63 of 73 articles by views in regional anesthesia and pain medicine

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic knee pain, often due to osteoarthritis (OA), is frequently treated with genicular nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or genicular artery embolization (GAE). However, the intracapsular distribution of nerve endings and vascular networks key pain parameters remains poorly defined in native and prosthetic knees. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We compared the distribution of intracapsular nerve endings and vascular density in native versus prosthetic knee capsules across five genicular nerve targets in relation to knee pain. METHODS: Ten native and ten prosthetic cadaveric knees were analyzed. Capsular samples (20 × 5 mm) were harvested from regions innervated by the superior medial, superior lateral, and inferior genicular nerves, the recurrent fibular nerve, and the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve. Nerve endings and vascular densities were quantified after histologic and immunohistochemical analysis comparatively. RESULTS: Native knees had higher free nerve ending (FNE) density (p < 0.001), while prosthetic knees showed greater vascular density (p = 0.001) and increased Pacini (p = 0.006), Golgi (p = 0.01), and unclassified endings (p = 0.019). Correlation between FNE and vascular density was modest in native knees (r = 0.41) and negligible in prosthetic knees (r = 0.09). Patterns were consistent across all nerve targets. All five nerve targets showed no difference in their mechanoreceptor and vascular density distribution. CONCLUSION: Dense FNE populations in native knees support genicular nerve-targeted interventions for OA pain. The increased vascularity and mechanoreceptor innervation identified in prosthetic knees suggest that inflammatory, angiogenic, and sensory mechanisms may contribute to persistent post-surgical pain. Whether interventions targeting these pathways, such as radiofrequency ablation or genicular artery embolization, provide better clinical benefit together remains to be established.
Reference Key
openalex_W7214598545 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Gaspary Fodjeu, Loïc Fonkoué, Cedric Dongmo Mayopa, Julie Manon, Freddy Bombah, Christine Detrembleur, Olivier CORNU, Catherine Behets
Journal regional anesthesia and pain medicine
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/pm/pnag130
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnag130
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.