Level D· Preclinical EvidenceLaboratory Study

Intra-articular and intra-osseous expanded adipose-derived stromal cell injections for knee osteoarthritis-related bone marrow lesions yield promising outcomes: Preliminary results in 16 athletes.

Khoury MA., Papakostas ET., Marín Fermín T., Tabben M., Chamari K., Levi L.

Laboratory Study on Knee Osteoarthritis, Osteoarthritis, published in J Exp Orthop (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type: Laboratory Study
Journal: J Exp Orthop (2026)
Country: United States
Reported sample size: —
PMID: 41541548
DOI: 10.1002/jeo2.70527

Abstract (original English)

To explore the results of a fluoroscopic-guided intra-osseous (IO) and intra-articular (IA) injection of expanded adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) in athletes with bone marrow lesions (BML) associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). A prospective study was conducted on 16 athletes (9 males, 7 females; mean age 30.5 ± 2.8 years), including two with bilateral knee involvement. All had Kellgren-Lawrence grades 2-4 and received IA and IO injections of 24.3 ± 2.1 million and 23.4 ± 1.9 million ASCs, respectively. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and Tegner activity scale at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Radiological changes were evaluated using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Osteoarthritis Knee Scores (MOAKS) at baseline and 12 months. Significant improvements were observed in NPRS, Tegner, and all KOOS subscales at 6 months and 12 months with respect to baseline ( p < 0.05). At 12 months, NPRS decreased from 6.6 ± 0.9 to 2.4 ± 0.5, and Tegner increased from 4.4 ± 1.8 to 7.8 ± 1.1. All KOOS subscale scores improved at 12 months. Symptoms: 49.3 ± 6.4 to 74.1 ± 4.9; pain: 49.4 ± 4.3 to 75.8 ± 3.2; sport and recreation: 30.6 ± 6.2 to 67.8 ± 4.3; activities of daily living: 57.6 ± 3.6 to 79.9 ± 4.8; and quality of life: 35.4 ± 10.3 to 66.3 ± 5.3. A mild decline yet significant in the KOOS

What this study does not prove

• This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
• This is preclinical work; animal or laboratory results cannot be applied to humans.

Evidence level

Evidence comes from animal or laboratory studies and has not been confirmed in humans.

How we grade evidence

Knee Knee Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis

View on PubMed DOI

Intra-articular and intra-osseous expanded adipose-derived stromal cell injections for knee osteoarthritis-related bone marrow lesions yield promising outcomes: Preliminary results in 16 athletes.

Abstract (original English)

What this study does not prove

Evidence level

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