Stem Cell Therapy Helps Heal Stubborn Jumper's Knee
Alessandro Russo, Vito Coco, Stefano Zaffagnini · Annals of Case Reports & Reviews · 2021
One Patient's Journey Back to Activity After Failed Treatments
Patellar tendinitis, often called "jumper's knee," causes pain at the front of the knee. It affects athletes and everyday people alike. About 17 percent of the general population experiences this condition. When standard treatments fail, the pain can become chronic and debilitating.
This case study follows a 56-year-old active man with severe left knee pain. He could not climb stairs, run, or squat without significant discomfort. His daily activities had become impossible. He had already given up recreational activities for an entire year due to the pain.
Six Months of Standard Care Brought No Relief
Before trying stem cell therapy, the patient completed a full course of conservative treatment. This included rest, ice, and activity modification for six months. He also underwent physical therapy with stretching and strengthening exercises. Despite this comprehensive approach, his symptoms did not improve.
MRI scans confirmed the diagnosis. They showed thickening and damage where the patellar tendon attaches to the kneecap. The imaging revealed an area of degeneration that explained his ongoing pain.
Fat-Derived Stem Cells Injected Into the Knee Joint
After conservative treatment failed, doctors offered a regenerative approach. They harvested mesenchymal stem cells from the patient's own fat tissue. These cells were then injected into his knee joint. The procedure followed an established method that uses the body's natural healing cells.
The patient received detailed information about the treatment. He understood both the potential benefits and the risks involved. This type of therapy uses your own tissue, which reduces rejection concerns.
MRI Shows Tendon Healing at 12-Month Follow-Up
The results were striking. Follow-up MRI scans at one year showed clear improvement. The damaged area of the patellar tendon appeared regenerated. The tendon had better volume and structure compared to before treatment.
The imaging revealed signs of tissue repair at the previously damaged attachment site. Doctors described the tendon as showing "good morphology," meaning it looked more normal and healthy.
Function Scores Jump From Poor to Near-Perfect
The patient's knee function improved dramatically across all measures:
IKDC score (overall knee function): Increased from 25 to 99 out of 100
Lysholm score (daily activities): Rose from 23 to 100
Tegner score (activity level): Improved from 0 to 4, indicating return to recreational sports
At six months, he already showed major gains. By one year, he reported complete pain relief. He could resume activities that had been impossible before treatment.
A Promising Option When Other Treatments Fail
This case adds to growing evidence about stem cell therapy for tendon problems. Previous research using bone marrow-derived cells showed similar promise. In one study, seven of eight patients said they would repeat the procedure if needed.
The researchers note that this approach offers advantages over surgery. It is less invasive than open or arthroscopic procedures. Recovery time is shorter. The injection technique avoids surgical complications.
Current guidelines suggest trying exercise therapy, shockwave treatment, or platelet-rich plasma first. Surgery remains an option for those who do not improve after six months. This case suggests that fat-derived stem cell therapy could fill a gap between failed conservative care and surgery.
What This Means for Your Decision
This single case study shows promising results but has limitations. There was no comparison group. Only one patient was treated. Larger studies with more patients are needed to confirm these findings.
However, the dramatic improvement in both imaging and function is encouraging. For patients like you who have not responded to standard treatments, this approach may offer hope. Discuss with your doctor whether regenerative therapy using your own fat-derived cells might be appropriate for your situation.
Source: Russo et al., Annals of Case Reports & Reviews, 2021.
Original Publication
The Effect of Autologous Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Chronic Patellar Tendinitis: A Case Study
Alessandro Russo, Vito Coco, Stefano Zaffagnini · Annals of Case Reports & Reviews · 2021
A prospective analysis of the effect of autologous adipose derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in the treatment of chronic patellar tendinitis was conducted. A 56-year-old active male patient presented with increasing left knee pain and functional disability without trauma. MRI scan revealed tendon thickening and abnormality at the insertion of the tendon on the inferior part of the patella. After failed conventional management including 6 months of conservative treatment (ice, rest, activity modification, physical therapy, stretching, and eccentric exercise program), the patient underwent intraarticular adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) therapy. Post-operative radiological evaluation at 12 months showed appreciable improvement in patellar tendon volume and architecture at the site of damage, with MRI sequences demonstrating regeneration and repair of the patellar tendon. Clinical evaluation using IKDC, Lysholm, and Tegner scores showed substantial improvement from pre-operative to 12-months post-operative follow-up. The patient reported complete relief of pain after one year from the procedure. These results demonstrate that the use of AD-MSCs, after unsuccessful conventional patellar tendinitis management, resulted in structural, functional, and pain improvement, highlighting the possibility of adding autologous adipose derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy as a new treatment option for chronic patellar tendinitis.