Fat Tissue Injections Safely Reduce Arthritis Pain in 130 Dogs
Offer Zeira, Simone Scaccia, Letizia Pettinari, Erica Ghezzi, Nimrod Asiag, Laura Martinelli, Daniele Zahirpour, Maria P. Dumas, Martin Konar, Davide M. Lupi, Laurence Fiette, Luisa Pascucci, Leonardo Leonardi, Alistair Cliff, Giulio Alessandri, Augusto Pessina, Daniele Spaziante, Marina Aralla · Stem Cells Translational Medicine · 2018
Dogs Provide a Strong Model for Human Osteoarthritis Research
Dogs naturally develop osteoarthritis in ways very similar to humans. About 20% of adult dogs suffer from this painful joint condition. Because their disease develops spontaneously rather than being artificially created in a lab, dogs are considered one of the best models for testing treatments that may later help people. This study followed 130 pet dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. The dogs received injections of their own processed fat tissue into affected joints. Researchers tracked their progress for up to six months using veterinary examinations and owner observations.
Single Injection Uses Body's Own Processed Fat Tissue
The treatment involved a single injection of micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT)—specially processed fat from the dog's own body. Using the Lipogems® system, veterinarians collected fat tissue and processed it during the same procedure. This approach requires no laboratory cell expansion or enzyme treatments. The processed tissue contains natural regenerative cells, including mesenchymal stromal cells, that can help reduce inflammation and support healing. Because the tissue comes from the patient's own body, there is no risk of rejection.
88% of Dogs Showed Improvement by Six Months
The results were encouraging at every follow-up visit:
At one month: 78% of dogs showed improved mobility and comfort
At six months: 88% improved, 11% stayed the same, and only 1% worsened
Owner assessments: 92% of owners reported significant improvement at six months
Veterinarians measured improvement using standardized orthopedic examinations. They evaluated lameness, pain during joint movement, and range of motion. Owners also completed monthly pain questionnaires over a 24-month period to track their pets' comfort at home.
No Serious Side Effects Recorded in Any Patient
Safety was a primary focus of this study. Researchers monitored all 130 dogs for both local reactions at the injection site and systemic effects throughout the body. No major adverse effects were recorded. The procedure itself was minimally invasive and well-tolerated. Dogs that passed away from unrelated causes during the study period underwent autopsy examination of their treated joints. These examinations confirmed no harmful changes from the treatment.
Evidence Suggests Long-Term Pain Control Benefits
Researchers performed fluid analysis on treated joints to understand how the treatment works. Their findings, combined with the lasting clinical improvements, suggest that MFAT injections provide long-term pain control rather than just temporary relief. The regenerative cells in the processed fat tissue appear to influence the joint environment in ways that reduce inflammation and support tissue health over time. This effect continued throughout the six-month observation period.
Procedure Offers Practical Advantages for Patients
The Lipogems® procedure proved both time-efficient and cost-effective. Key benefits included:
Single treatment session: No need for multiple procedures
Same-day processing: Fat tissue processed during one visit
No cell culturing required: Avoids complex laboratory steps
Minimally invasive: Quick recovery compared to surgery
The study included dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds treated at seven veterinary hospitals across four countries. This broad approach demonstrates that the technique works across different patient populations and clinical settings.
What This Means for Human Patients
While this study focused on dogs, the findings have important implications for people considering MFAT treatment for osteoarthritis. Dogs develop arthritis naturally and share similar joint structures with humans. The strong safety profile and high improvement rates observed in this large group of animals support the potential benefits of this approach for human patients. The researchers specifically note that this dog model plays a key role in developing successful treatments for translational medicine—research that bridges animal studies and human applications.
Source: Zeira et al., Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2018.
Original Publication
Intra-Articular Administration of Autologous Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue in Dogs with Spontaneous Osteoarthritis: Safety, Feasibility, and Clinical Outcomes
Offer Zeira, Simone Scaccia, Letizia Pettinari, Erica Ghezzi, Nimrod Asiag, Laura Martinelli, Daniele Zahirpour, Maria P. Dumas, Martin Konar, Davide M. Lupi, Laurence Fiette, Luisa Pascucci, Leonardo Leonardi, Alistair Cliff, Giulio Alessandri, Augusto Pessina, Daniele Spaziante, Marina Aralla · Stem Cells Translational Medicine · 2018
Similar to the disease affecting humans, osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful musculoskeletal condition affecting 20% of the adult canine population. Several solutions have been proposed, but the results achieved to date are far from being satisfactory. New approaches, such as intra-articular delivery of cells (including mesenchymal stromal cells), have been proposed. Among the many sources, the adipose tissue is considered very promising. We evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of autologous and micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) in 130 dogs with spontaneous OA. MFAT was obtained using a minimally invasive technique in a closed system and injected in the intra- and/or peri-articular space. Clinical outcomes were determined using orthopedic examination and owners' scores for up to 6 months. In 78% of the dogs, improvement in the orthopedic score was registered 1 month after treatment and continued gradually up to 6 months when 88% of the dogs improved, 11% did not change, and 1% worsened compared with baseline. Considering the owners' scores at 6 months, 92% of the dogs significantly improved, 6% improved only slightly, and 2% worsened compared with baseline. No local or systemic major adverse effects were recorded. The results of this study suggest that MFAT injection in dogs with OA is safe, feasible, and beneficial. The procedure is time sparing and cost-effective. Post injection cytological investigation, together with the clinical evidence, suggests a long-term pain control role of this treatment. The spontaneous OA dog model has a key role in developing successful treatments for translational medicine.