Knee Arthritis Treatment With Autologous Fragmented Adipose Tissue and PRP - Comparison of Two Treatment Methods
This is a prospective, randomized, controlled study. The purpose of this study is to assess functional and clinical changes among patients with symptomatic knee OA treated with intra-articular injections of autologous adipose tissue or PRP and to compare the efficacy of both therapeutic methods. We hypothesize that adipose tissue injections will improve patients' quality of life and functional status and will decrease pain level significantly more than PRP injections. In addition to the functional tests and muscle strength measurement, the patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) of the knee joint function and quality of life will be used to assess each participant. The same inclusion criteria have been established for an Experimental Group (subjects treated with autologous fat tissue) and a Control Group (subjects treated with PRP). Those criteria consist of: symptomatic knee OA, age between 45 and 65 y.o., Kellgren- Lawrence grades I - III OA, no or minimal positive effects of previous conservative treatment (rehabilitation, hyaluronic acid injections, steroid injections). Those patients who meet inclusion criteria will be allocated to Fat Tissue Group or PRP Group randomly. Patients will be assessed five times: before treatment and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the treatment. The PROMs consist of the four questionnaires: The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 (IKDC 2000), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) (21,22), the Health Questionnaire EQ- 5D- 5L. Moreover, three functional tests will be performed to assess patient's functional status: The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), The 5 Times Sit to Stand Test (5xSTS), The 10m Walk Test (10mWT). To assess strength parameters of the knee flexors and extensors the Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) will be measured. Each test will be supervised by the same one physiotherapist to avoid any interexaminer bias and discrepancies during testing.
Start: July 2018