Two Fat-Based Treatments Both Ease Knee Arthritis Pain

Study compares two ways to process your own fat tissue

Researchers in Japan compared two regenerative treatments for knee osteoarthritis. Both use fat tissue harvested from your own body. The first method, called MFAT (micro-fragmented adipose tissue), gently breaks down fat while keeping its natural structure intact. The second method, called SVF (stromal vascular fraction), uses enzymes to extract individual cells from fat tissue. This study asked: which approach works better for knee pain and function?

Both treatments significantly reduced knee pain

The study included 72 patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis. Half received MFAT injections and half received SVF injections. Researchers carefully matched the two groups by age, sex, weight, and arthritis severity. Both treatments led to meaningful pain reduction. Patients rated their pain on a 100-point scale before and after treatment. Both groups showed significant improvement that persisted throughout the study period.

MFAT showed advantages in knee bending and cartilage health

While both treatments improved pain and function, MFAT demonstrated some notable advantages:

• Better knee flexibility: The MFAT group showed significantly greater improvement in how far they could bend their knee compared to the SVF group

• Superior cartilage quality: Special MRI scans revealed that MFAT better preserved cartilage in certain areas of the knee

• Longer-lasting benefits: The percentage of patients responding well to SVF treatment decreased over time, while MFAT maintained steady improvement from six months onward

MRI scans revealed cartilage improvements in both groups

Researchers used a specialized MRI technique called T2 mapping to examine cartilage quality. This method can detect early cartilage changes that regular MRIs might miss. Both treatment groups showed improved cartilage quality on these scans. However, the MFAT group demonstrated better preservation in specific regions of the knee, particularly in areas that bear less weight during daily activities.

No serious side effects reported in either group

Safety is always a primary concern with any medical treatment. Throughout this study, no serious adverse events occurred in either the MFAT or SVF group. Both treatments used the patient's own tissue, which reduces the risk of rejection or allergic reactions. The procedures were performed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon with over eight years of specialization in regenerative therapy.

What this means for your treatment decision

This research suggests that MFAT may offer advantages for patients seeking longer-lasting relief from knee osteoarthritis. The preserved tissue structure in MFAT appears to support sustained release of beneficial growth factors. This could explain why patients in the MFAT group maintained their improvements over time while SVF benefits showed some decline.

Key points to consider:

• Both treatments effectively reduced pain and improved function

• MFAT demonstrated better results for knee flexibility

• MFAT showed superior cartilage preservation in certain knee regions

• MFAT benefits appeared more durable over the study period

• Neither treatment caused serious side effects

The researchers concluded that MFAT's preserved tissue structure may provide longer-lasting therapeutic effects. They recommend that clinicians consider these differences when helping patients choose between treatment options. If sustained improvement is a priority, MFAT may be the preferred choice based on these findings.

This study adds to growing evidence supporting fat-based regenerative treatments for knee osteoarthritis. It provides valuable guidance for patients and doctors weighing their options before considering more invasive procedures like joint replacement surgery.

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Source: Maeda et al., Regenerative Therapy, 2025.