Description
We report the clinical result of the first clinical trial evaluating a single intra-articular injection of autologous adipose tissue enriched in stromal vascular fraction exclusively in patients with end stage (Kellgren-Lawrence IV) knee osteoarthritis. 42 patients have been treated and prospectively followed: 34 patients reached the 2 years follow up while results at 3 years are available for 11 patients. A statistically significant improvement in all KOOS subscales and NRS score was found between baseline and 6 months of follow up. Clinical results remained stable up to 18 months of follow up and then started to slightly worse but always remaining statistically better than baseline. At the present follow up, only 3 patients underwent total knee replacement surgery, at a mean of 18 months post injections
