Lipogems® Hip Injection: Early Results Show Promise for Arthritis Relief

Six Patients See Significant Pain Reduction After Single Treatment

A small study from an Italian university hospital tested whether injecting processed fat tissue into arthritic hips could reduce pain and improve function. All six patients experienced meaningful improvements within six months, with no serious complications.

The researchers used the Lipogems® system to process fat taken from patients' own abdominal area. This technology gently breaks down fat tissue while preserving the helpful regenerative cells inside—including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can develop into various tissue types including cartilage.

Hip Function Scores Jump from "Poor" to "Good" Range

Before treatment, five of the six patients had hip function scores rated as "poor." Six months after their injection, the results improved dramatically:

• Harris Hip Score rose from 67 points (poor) to 85 points (good) on average

• WOMAC score (measuring pain, stiffness, and daily function) dropped by nearly half—from 36 to 20 points

• Pain scores fell from 4.6 to 1.5 on a ten-point scale

These improvements were statistically significant, meaning they were unlikely to occur by chance. One patient even achieved an "excellent" hip function rating.

Treatment Targets Early-Stage Hip Arthritis

The study focused on patients with mild to moderate hip osteoarthritis—specifically grades zero through two on the Tonnis scale. This matters because regenerative treatments typically work best before joint damage becomes severe.

All patients had experienced constant hip pain for at least six months. Standard treatments like anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy had failed to provide adequate relief. Yet their arthritis wasn't advanced enough to justify hip replacement surgery—leaving them in a frustrating treatment gap.

Single Outpatient Procedure Uses Patient's Own Fat

The treatment involved a straightforward same-day procedure:

• Fat harvesting: About 60 milliliters (roughly four tablespoons) of fat was collected from the abdominal area using gentle liposuction

• Processing: The Lipogems® device mechanically processed the fat into smaller clusters while removing blood and oil residues

• Injection: Five to ten milliliters of the final product was injected directly into the hip joint under X-ray guidance

Patients went home the next day. They avoided putting weight on the treated hip for seven to ten days and completed a course of physical therapy afterward.

No Serious Side Effects Reported in This Group

Safety is always a key concern with any medical procedure. In this study, only one minor complication occurred—a blood collection (hematoma) at the abdominal harvest site that resolved on its own. No patients experienced worsening of their hip condition.

This aligns with broader safety data. The researchers referenced a 2017 review of 584 patients across 28 studies, which concluded that MSC therapy injected into joints is safe with generally positive results.

Why Fat Tissue May Help Arthritic Joints

Cartilage has limited ability to heal itself because it lacks blood supply. As we age, the cells that maintain cartilage become less active, leading to gradual breakdown.

Fat tissue offers two potential benefits for damaged joints:

1. Rich cell source: About two percent of cells in fat tissue are mesenchymal stem cells—one hundred times more than in bone marrow

2. Natural anti-inflammatory properties: Fat tissue contains substances that may calm joint inflammation

The Lipogems® processing method keeps these beneficial cells intact while removing potentially irritating components.

Important Limitations to Consider

This was a preliminary study with significant limitations. Only six patients were included, there was no comparison group receiving a different treatment or placebo, and follow-up lasted just six months.

The researchers acknowledge that longer follow-up is needed to determine how lasting the benefits are. Larger studies with control groups would provide stronger evidence about whether the treatment truly works better than alternatives.

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Source: Dall'Oca et al., Acta Biomedica, 2019.