Joint pain is a common ailment often caused by several conditions. It can be persistent and may not respond effectively to medical treatments. While patients can often seek relief from pain through surgical procedures such as joint replacement or fusion surgeries, these cannot be applied to all patients due to varying individual circumstances. In cases where such major surgeries are not suitable or feasible, exploration of alternative solutions becomes imperative.

Joint denervation is a less invasive option for joint pain that preserves joint anatomy. By selectively ablating the sensory nerves that innervate the joint, this procedure disrupts the pain signals transmitted from the affected joint to the brain. Denervation may be accomplished chemically, thermally, or by radiofrequency. Alternatively, transarterial embolization can regress abnormal blood vessels and accompanying pain-related nerves.

Joint denervation is a promising pain management technique with proven effectiveness in reducing chronic joint pain. As long-term pain relief is demonstrated to be possible through joint denervation, it is likely to become a popular choice among patients seeking pain relief. In addition to major joint embolization, patients experiencing distal limb joint pain, such as finger or thumb, may benefit from transarterial embolization when conservative treatment only provides temporary relief.

However, there is still much to be validated regarding these minimally invasive techniques, and a consensus regarding the standard of practice has not yet been reached. Furthermore, the denervation techniques are currently transitioning from fluoroscopy guidance/multiple guidance to solely ultrasound guidance.

This research topic encourages relevant reports on all aspects of minimally invasive joint pain management, especially joint denervation and transarterial embolization. We welcome original articles, pre-clinical studies, reviews, and technical communication to enrich the development of knowledge and technology in this field.

• Cadaveric dissection studies and/or contrast spread clinical findings illustrating the articular branches distribution and/or the coverage of articular branches by the injectate.
• Clinical studies evidencing the efficacy of articular branches’ denervation by a specific approach.
• Clinical studies on comparison of the efficacy among different denervation and/or transarterial embolization approaches.
• Original studies or technical communication for the development of a new denervation or transarterial embolization approach.
• Clinical studies on the validation of the efficacy of the currently-used denervation or transarterial embolization approaches.
• Studies on developing a denervation or transarterial embolization strategy through pre-clinical studies using animals, computers, or other modalities.
• Narrative reviews summarizing the currently available techniques regarding denervation or transarterial embolization.
• Meta-analyses revealing the superiority and priority of established techniques for specific joint denervation or transarterial embolization.
• Clinical studies comparing the efficacy between solely ultrasound guidance and multiple guidance (especially those requiring radiation exposure).

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Advances in Minimally Invasive Joint Pain Management: Denervation and Transarterial Embolization