Chronic joint or tendon pain often traps patients in a loop: rest and physiotherapy, then painkillers and injections, then being told to "wait" for surgery.
Transarterial Microembolization (TAME) breaks that pattern for the right patient. It is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that targets abnormal tiny blood vessels linked to chronic inflammation and pain.
In many musculoskeletal conditions, these new vessels (neovascularization) help sustain inflammation. TAME reduces that abnormal flow and aims to reduce pain.
In Bangalore, Dr. Sravan C.P.S performs TAME at a centrally located hospital in Basavanagudi, with convenient access from Jayanagar, JP Nagar, Banashankari, Wilson Garden and CBD Bangalore.
It is important to remember that TAME requires proper patient selection. Clinical evaluation and imaging review are essential.
Consult a vascular specialist for TAME if you have chronic musculoskeletal pain (3+ months), failed conservative treatments, and want minimally invasive options before surgery.
TAME is a targeted embolization technique performed in an advanced cath lab.
Step 1 — Preparation:
Step 2 — Local anaesthesia:
Step 3 — Catheter navigation:
Step 4 — Angiography (mapping):
Step 5 — Microembolization:
Step 6 — Recovery:
How long does the TAME procedure take? Often around 60–120 minutes, depending on the target area and vessel anatomy. Time varies by case.
Transarterial Microembolization (TAME) with Dr. Sravan is performed in a Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) suite designed for precision vascular work.
This setup supports:
Location & accessibility:
TAME applied to knee osteoarthritis — targets abnormal blood vessels around knee joint feeding chronic inflammation. Often called GAE (Genicular Artery Embolization). Aims to reduce pain, improve walking and stairs, delay or avoid knee replacement surgery in suitable patients.
TAME used in chronic shoulder pain such as adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Targets abnormal neovascularization linked to inflammation. Aims to reduce shoulder pain and stiffness, improve range of motion, support faster return to daily activities than prolonged conservative care alone.
TAME applied to chronic tendinopathies in selected cases — plantar fasciitis (heel pain), Achilles tendinopathy (ankle pain). Emerging evidence shows potential for reducing chronic tendon inflammation and pain. Super-selective micro-catheter targeting of abnormal vessels feeding inflamed tendon tissue.
Conservative care (physio, medicines, injections) — first line but pain often returns. Surgery — works for structural problems but many not ready or not fit. TAME — logical step between conservative and surgery. Pinhole procedure, targets inflammation blood supply, faster recovery than surgery in selected cases. Studies describe as minimally invasive and generally safe when performed by experienced operators.
Common questions and detailed answers about TAME procedure, conditions treated, recovery, and when it is appropriate
TAME is an image-guided procedure that blocks abnormal tiny arteries linked to chronic inflammation to reduce pain in musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, and chronic tendinopathies.
No. TAME uses a pinhole catheter approach with micro-catheter and real-time imaging guidance, not an open surgical cut. Day-care or short-stay treatment in many cases.
Doctors use it for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions when conservative care fails, including knee osteoarthritis (GAE), frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), and selected tendinopathies (plantar fasciitis, Achilles).
TAME is the broader concept of musculoskeletal embolization. When doctors apply it to knee osteoarthritis specifically, many call it GAE (Genicular Artery Embolization).
Often around 60–120 minutes, depending on the target area and vessel anatomy. Time varies by case and complexity of abnormal neovascularization.
Many patients resume light routine activity within days. Your doctor will set limits based on the treated area. Full pain improvement may take weeks as inflammation gradually reduces.
Studies describe it as minimally invasive and generally safe when performed by experienced operators, but complications can occur in some settings. Proper patient selection and vascular expertise matter for safety.
Not always. It often serves as a strong option between conservative care and surgery for selected patients. Can delay or avoid surgery in suitable cases with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Because TAME is a vessel procedure requiring deep arterial anatomy knowledge and micro-catheter precision. Dr. Sravan's vascular and endovascular specialization aligns directly with micro-catheter embolization techniques and safety-first planning.
You need a clinical evaluation plus review of your imaging (X-ray, MRI, ultrasound) and prior treatments (physio, medicines, injections). Then the specialist confirms whether TAME fits your pain pattern and arterial anatomy.
Suffering from chronic joint or tendon pain (knee osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, tendinopathy)? Failed conservative treatments? Want minimally invasive option before surgery? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Sravan C.P.S at Trinity Hospital and Heart Foundation, Basavangudi for expert TAME evaluation.
+91 8040136999
trinityheartfoundation@gmail.com
Trinity Hospital and Heart Foundation, Basavangudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka
24 Hour Emergency Aid