Two Treatments Compared for Early Knee Arthritis

A research team in Italy tested two promising options for people with early-stage knee osteoarthritis. Both treatments use your body's own healing resources. This study helps patients understand which approach might work better for their situation.

Eighty Knees Tested Over One Year

Researchers enrolled 50 patients with early knee osteoarthritis. Thirty patients had arthritis in both knees, bringing the total to 80 knees studied. Participants averaged 61 years old and had pain that didn't respond well to anti-inflammatory medications. All had mild arthritis confirmed by X-rays and MRI scans.

Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

• Group 1 received three injections of platelet-rich plasma combined with hyaluronic acid, spaced one month apart

• Group 2 received a single injection of micro-fragmented adipose tissue (specially processed fat from their own body)

Both Treatments Improved Pain and Function

The good news: patients in both groups experienced meaningful improvement. At six months and twelve months, both treatment approaches helped reduce pain and improve daily function. This confirms that regenerative treatments offer real benefits for early knee arthritis.

Researchers tracked progress using several validated questionnaires. These measured pain levels, knee symptoms, and ability to perform physical activities. Both groups showed statistically significant gains across these measures.

Fat Tissue Treatment Showed an Edge in Key Areas

While both treatments worked, the micro-fragmented adipose tissue group performed better on certain measures. At six months, this group had significantly better results in two areas:

• Tegner activity score (measuring physical activity level)

• KOOS symptoms (measuring knee-specific symptoms like swelling and stiffness)

At twelve months, the advantage continued. The fat tissue group maintained significantly higher Tegner scores compared to the platelet-rich plasma group. This suggests patients could return to more demanding physical activities.

One Injection Versus Three: A Practical Difference

An important practical finding emerged from this comparison. The micro-fragmented adipose tissue treatment required just one injection. The platelet-rich plasma approach needed three separate injections over three months. For busy patients or those who dislike needles, fewer treatments may matter.

The single-injection approach also means fewer office visits. This could reduce overall treatment burden while potentially delivering better results.

What This Means for Your Treatment Decision

This study suggests that micro-fragmented adipose tissue offers meaningful benefits for early knee osteoarthritis. Both treatments provided relief, but the fat tissue approach showed advantages in physical activity measures. These findings support considering Lipogems® technology when exploring regenerative options.

However, researchers note some limitations. The study wasn't blinded, meaning patients knew which treatment they received. The twelve-month follow-up period doesn't reveal longer-term outcomes. Larger studies with longer tracking periods would strengthen these findings.

For patients with early knee arthritis who want to avoid or delay surgery, regenerative treatments show promise. This research adds to growing evidence that your body's own tissues contain powerful healing potential.

---

Source: Dallo et al., Stem Cells and Development, 2021.