ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2020 September;71(3):93-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0394-3410.20.03976-4

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Intra-articular administration of purified autologous adipose tissue for knee osteoarthritis treatment

Gianluca CASTELLARIN ^{1, 2} ✉, Salvatore MOSCA ², Giovanni MICERA ², Antonio MORONI ²

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery 2, Suzzarra Hospital, Suzzara, Mantua, Italy; ² IRCCS Galeazzi San Siro Orthopedic Clinic, San Raffaele Vita e Salute University, Milan, Italy

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis at its early stages can be treated using several not invasive methods. The aim of
this paper is to assess the efficacy of intra-articular administration of purified adipose tissue for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS: Ninety-two patients with MRI evidence of II-III grade knee osteoarthritis (Outerbridge classification) were recruited for the study. Patients underwent a small liposuction (40-60 mL) and harvested fat was processed intraoperatively to obtain purified adipose tissue. The obtained product was injected into the symptomatic joint. Patients were interviewed for clinical evaluation with VAS and WOMAC questionnaires before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. Postoperative MRI was done on a selected group of patients.
RESULTS: The treated patients group showed significant pain relief and functional recovery 1 month after the therapy with benefits until the last follow-up (12 months). Functional recovery measured with WOMAC Score - ameliorated from 61.5 points before the treatment to 79.5 after one month and 84 after one year. Pain - measured with VAS - significantly decreased from 5.7 to 3.1 points after one month and 1.7 after one year. MRI images showed an evident reduction or even disappearance of peri-lesional subchondral edema.
CONCLUSIONS: Intra-articular administration of purified adipose tissue is significantly effective in ameliorating knee osteoarthritis symptoms with effects lasting at least 1 year.

KEY WORDS: Knee; Cartilage; Regenerative medicine; Adipose tissue