Abstract
Purpose This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous aspirated and purified
fat tissue injected percutaneously into the knee joint for the treatment of symptomatic
osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods We reviewed 30 patients, who received an autologous percutaneous fat injection for
the treatment of knee OA, from January 2012 to March 2015. Mean patients' age was
63.3 ± 5.3 years (range, 50–80 years). Body mass index was 25.1 ± 1.7. Clinical evaluation
was based on pain visual analog scale (VAS) and WOMAC score for functional and subjective
assessment. We also noted the adverse reactions and the consumption of nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs in the posttreatment period.
Results All patients reported improvements with respect to pain: average VAS was 7.7 ± 1.2
at baseline, 5.2 ± 0.2 at 1-month follow-up, and 4.3 ± 1 at 3-month follow-up. A slight
deterioration (5.0 ± 1.1) was evidenced at 1 year. Total WOMAC score was 89.9 ± 1.7
at baseline, 66.3 ± 1 at 1 month, 68.6 ± 1.7 at 3 months, and 73.2 ± 1.8 at 12 months
of follow-up.
Conclusion Our preliminary findings suggest that autologous percutaneous fat injections are
a valid treatment option for knee OA.
Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Keywords
fat tissue - knee - osteoarthritis - injections - aspirate
