Lipogems® for Meniscus Tears with Knee Osteoarthritis: What This Study Found

Pain Scores Drop by More Than Half After One Year

This pilot study followed 20 patients with knee pain caused by meniscus tears combined with osteoarthritis. All participants had tried other treatments first—like physical therapy, pain medications, or injections—without success. Researchers measured pain on a scale from zero (no pain) to ten (worst imaginable pain). At the start, the average pain score was 5.45. After one year, it dropped to 2.21. This improvement was statistically significant, meaning it was unlikely to happen by chance. The reduction of more than three points also exceeded the threshold doctors consider "clinically meaningful" for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Knee Function Improves Across All Measured Categories

The study used a well-established questionnaire called the KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) to track how well knees worked in daily life. This questionnaire measures five areas: symptoms, pain, daily activities, sports and recreation, and quality of life. Overall scores improved from 57.7 to 78.2 at the one-year mark. All four subscales showed significant improvement. These gains suggest that patients could move more easily and participate in activities they had previously avoided.

Injections Targeted Both Meniscus and Joint Space

Unlike some treatments that only address the joint in general, this approach used ultrasound imaging to guide injections precisely. Doctors injected the micro-fragmented adipose tissue (specially processed fat from the patient's own body) directly into the torn meniscus and into the knee joint space. The idea behind this dual approach is that the tissue can act as both a filler for the damaged meniscus and a source of healing cells. The processed fat contains pericytes (helper cells that support blood vessel healing) and mesenchymal stem cells, which may reduce inflammation and encourage tissue repair.

Only One Complication Required Treatment

Safety was a key focus of this research. One patient developed cellulitis (a skin infection) at the site where fat was harvested. This was successfully treated with oral antibiotics and did not cause lasting problems. Other complications were minor and mostly related to the fat collection process rather than the knee injection itself. No serious adverse events occurred. The researchers concluded that the procedure appears safe for patients who have not responded to standard conservative treatments.

Study Provides Promising Early Evidence

This was a pilot study, meaning it was designed to gather preliminary information rather than prove the treatment works definitively. There was no comparison group receiving a placebo or different treatment. The 20-patient sample size is relatively small. However, the consistent improvements in both pain and function across multiple measurement tools are encouraging. The researchers noted that these findings support conducting a larger, randomized controlled trial to determine true efficacy.

What This Means for Your Treatment Decision

If you have a meniscus tear combined with knee osteoarthritis and have not found relief from physical therapy, medications, or other injections, this study suggests that micro-fragmented adipose tissue injection may be worth discussing with your doctor. The procedure uses your own fat tissue, avoiding donor compatibility concerns. Results showed meaningful pain reduction and functional improvement lasting at least one year. While more research is needed, the safety profile appears favorable. Ask your healthcare provider whether this option might be appropriate for your specific situation.

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Source: Malanga et al., None, 2020.