Intraarticular injection of microfragmented adipose tissue plus arthroscopy in isolated primary patellofemoral osteoarthritis is clinically effective and not affected by age, BMI, or stage of osteoarthritis

Michele Vasso; Katia Corona; Luigi Capasso; Giuseppe Toro; Alfredo Schiavone Panni

doi:10.1186/s10195-022-00628-9

Intraarticular injection of microfragmented adipose tissue plus arthroscopy in isolated primary patellofemoral osteoarthritis is clinically effective and not affected by age, BMI, or stage of osteoarthritis

J Orthop Traumatol. 2022 Feb 5;23(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s10195-022-00628-9.

Authors

Michele Vasso¹, Katia Corona², Luigi Capasso¹, Giuseppe Toro¹, Alfredo Schiavone Panni¹

Affiliations

¹ Multidisciplinary Department of Medico-Surgical and Dentistry Specialties, "Luigi Vanvitelli" University of Campania, Naples, Italy.
² Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "Vincenzo Tiberio", University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy. katia.corona@unimol.it.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to report the clinical and functional results of a series of patients with isolated primary patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) treated with intraarticular injection of microfragmented autologous adipose tissue plus knee arthroscopy. The results were also analyzed in relation to the age and body mas index (BMI) of patients, and to the stage of PFOA.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with early-to-moderate (stage 1-3 according to the Iwano classification system) PFOA who received this treatment were retrospectively analyzed, with a mean follow-up of 22.1 ± 4.2 months. Patients were assessed using the International Knee Society (IKS) knee and function and visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and relative to their capacity for climbing stairs. Differences in improvements of IKS and VAS scores in relation to age (< 60 versus ≥ 60 years), BMI (< 30 versus ≥ 30 kg/m²), and stage of PFOA (stages 1-2 versus stage 3) were finally analyzed.

Results: The mean IKS knee score significantly improved from 35.6 ± 14.9 points preoperatively to 61.9 ± 17.8 points at the latest follow-up, while the mean IKS function score significantly improved from 52.0 ± 14.7 points preoperatively to 82.3 ± 19.1 points at the latest follow-up. The mean VAS score significantly decreased from 8.7 ± 2.2 preoperatively to 5.2 ± 2.5 at the latest follow-up. A significant improvement in the capacity to climb stairs was found. No significant differences in improvements of IKS knee and function and VAS scores were found in relation to age, BMI, or stage of PFOA.

Conclusion: Intraarticular injection of microfragmented autologous adipose tissue following arthroscopic debridement significantly improved overall clinical and functional scores in patients with early or moderate isolated primary PFOA at a mean follow-up of almost 2 years. Improvements were not significantly affected by age, BMI, or stage of PFOA.

Level of evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Adipose-derived stem cells; Arthroscopic debridement; Knee; Patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue
Arthroscopy*
Body Mass Index
Humans
Injections, Intra-Articular
Middle Aged
Osteoarthritis, Knee* / surgery
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome