The role of arthroscopy in intra-articular adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of early-stage knee osteoarthritis: A bicentric retrospective comparative study.

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

To determine the difference in clinical scores and re-intervention rates in patients receiving intra-articular adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) as a stand-alone treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA) compared to patients receiving the same treatment following arthroscopic debridement and lavage. Internal records at two orthopaedic centres were reviewed, and all consecutive patients with Kellgren-Lawrence II-III knee OA who had received intra-articular AD-MSC during 2017-2018 were included. The patients were stratified into two cohorts depending on whether they also received debridement arthroscopy. Patients were evaluated with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores as well as re-intervention rates with a last available follow-up of 5 years after the intra-articular AD-MSC injection. A total of 135 patients were enroled, 66 (49%) patients were male and 69 (51%) were female. The mean age at the time of intervention was 66 (range: 43-81) years. About half of the cohort ( n = 68) received a diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy (intervention) procedure in the same setting, whereas the other half ( n = 67) received intra-articular AD-MSCs without an arthroscopic procedure (control). Totally, 94% reported improved VAS scores post-operatively. Seventy-two patients (53%) had good symptomatic

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

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