Knee Osteoarthritis Study Shows Promising Results with Lipogems® Treatment

110 Knees Treated in Year-Long UK Observational Study

Researchers at The Regenerative Clinic in London tracked 110 knees treated with a single injection of micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT). MFAT is specially processed fat tissue from your own body that contains regenerative cells. This study followed patients for twelve months to measure changes in pain, daily function, and quality of life. All patients had confirmed knee osteoarthritis diagnosed through X-rays and MRI scans.

Pain Scores Cut by More Than Half on Average

The study measured pain using a standard 0-100 scale, where higher numbers mean worse pain. Before treatment, patients reported a median pain score of 70. At twelve months, this dropped to 30—a reduction of more than half. This improvement was statistically significant, meaning it was very unlikely to have occurred by chance. For many patients, this level of pain reduction can mean the difference between struggling with daily tasks and returning to normal activities.

Knee Function Improved Significantly After Treatment

Researchers used the Oxford Knee Score to measure how well patients could perform everyday activities. This test asks about tasks like:

• Walking and climbing stairs

• Getting in and out of chairs

• Pain during daily activities

• Sleep quality affected by knee pain

Scores improved from a median of 25 before treatment to 33.5 at twelve months. Higher scores indicate better function. This nine-point improvement represents meaningful gains in patients' ability to move and live without knee limitations.

Quality of Life Gains Reported Across the Board

The study also tracked overall quality of life using a widely respected health questionnaire (EQ-5D). Scores improved from 0.62 to 0.69, showing that patients felt better overall—not just in their knees. This matters because chronic knee pain affects sleep, mood, and the ability to enjoy life. All three measurements—pain, function, and quality of life—showed statistically significant improvements.

Zero Adverse Events Reported During Entire Study

Perhaps most reassuring for patients considering this treatment: no adverse events occurred. Researchers monitored patients during the procedure, during recovery, and throughout the twelve-month follow-up period. No complications were reported at any stage. This safety profile aligns with the nature of the treatment—using your own tissue means there is no risk of rejection or allergic reaction.

All Grades of Osteoarthritis Showed Improvement

The study included patients with varying severity of knee osteoarthritis, classified using a standard grading system. Importantly, patients across all grades experienced benefits. This suggests that Lipogems® may help whether your arthritis is mild or more advanced. However, researchers note that further studies would help confirm these encouraging results and better understand which patients respond best.

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What This Means for You: This study adds to growing evidence that a single injection of your own processed fat tissue can meaningfully reduce knee pain and improve daily function. The treatment showed strong results with no reported side effects. While this was an observational study rather than a randomized trial, the consistent improvements across 110 knees over twelve months are encouraging for patients seeking alternatives to surgery or ongoing medication.

Source: Heidari et al., BioMed Research International, 2020.