Level A· Stronger Clinical EvidenceSystematic Review

Total Knee Arthroplasty versus Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis: An Umbrella Analysis of Clinical Outcomes, Quality of Life, and Safety.

Angthong C., Vichayabhai T., Tatiya-Apitham P., Angthong W.

Systematic Review with a reported sample of 50 on Knee Osteoarthritis, Osteoarthritis, published in Ortop Traumatol Rehabil (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: Systematic Review
Journal: Ortop Traumatol Rehabil (2026)
Country: Poland
Reported sample size: 50
PMID: 42259358
DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0055.7770

Abstract (original English)

<p>Background. Moderate knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] Grade 2-3) represents a critical therapeutic crossroads where patients must choose between regenerative strategies and surgical replacement. This umbrella analysis synthesizes current evidence regarding the clinical efficacy, quality of life, and safety profiles of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy relative to total knee arthroplasty (TKA).<br />Material and methods. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched seven databases (2016-2026). Screening of 1,211 records identified 242 unique papers for full-text assessment. Eligible studies included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and large prospective cohorts (&gt;50 participants) evaluating intra-articular MSCs or TKA in KL Grade 2-3 populations with ≥12-month follow-up.<br />Results. Our analysis reveals a profound evidence gap: zero studies directly compared MSC therapy to TKA in this population. Data from 30 high-quality studies demonstrate that MSC therapy significantly outperforms placebo and conservative management, yielding VAS pain reductions of 20-40 points and WOMAC functional improvements of 15-35 points at 12-24 months. Adipose-derived MSCs showed superior analgesia, while umbilical cord-derived MSCs optimized functional recovery. MSC therapy significantly reduced the hazard of TKA conversion (HR 0.52, p&

What this study does not prove

• This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.

Evidence level

Relatively higher-quality human studies compared with other topics in this database, e.g. multiple RCTs or systematic reviews. This does not mean it is standard or approved care.

How we grade evidence

HumansOsteoarthritis, KneeMesenchymal Stem Cell TransplantationArthroplasty, Replacement, KneeQuality of LifeFemaleTreatment OutcomeMaleMiddle AgedAged

Knee Knee Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis

View on PubMed DOI

Total Knee Arthroplasty versus Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis: An Umbrella Analysis of Clinical Outcomes, Quality of Life, and Safety.

Abstract (original English)

What this study does not prove

Evidence level

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