Genicular nerve blocks are a type of interventional pain management technique that involves injecting anesthetic medication around the genicular nerves in the knee to relieve pain. The genicular nerves are three nerves that innervate the knee joint, and blocking them can help reduce pain and inflammation in the knee.

During the procedure, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the knee, and a needle is then guided into the area near the genicular nerves using imaging guidance such as ultrasound or fluoroscopy. Once the needle is in place, a mixture of local anesthetic and steroid medication is injected around the nerves to block their pain signals.

Genicular nerve blocks are typically used to treat chronic knee pain due to conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or prior knee surgery. They can provide temporary relief from knee pain and inflammation, and may be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the source of knee pain before more invasive treatments are considered.