Clinical Efficacy of Arthroscopic Therapy With Infrapatellar Fat Pad Cell Concentrates in Treating Knee Cartilage Lesion: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background: Toevaluatethe clinical efficacy of arthroscopic therapy with infrapatellar fat pad cell concentrates in treating knee cartilage lesion, we launched a prospective randomized single-blind clinical study of controlled method.Methods: 60 cases from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital during April 2018 to December 2019 were chosen and randomlydivided into 2 groups equally. Patients in the experiment group were treated throughknee arthroscopy with knee infrapatellar fat pad cell concentrates containing mesenchymal stem cells, while patients in the control group were treated through regular knee arthroscopic therapy. VAS and WOMAC scores were assessed at pre-operation, and 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 12 months after intervention. MORCART scores were assessed at pre-operation and 12 months after intervention.Results: 29 cases in the experiment group and 28 cases in the control group were followed up. No significant difference in VAS, WOMAC, and MOCART scores were found between the two groups before surgery(P>0.05). The WOMAC-Total and WOMAC-Function scores ofexperiment groupwere significantly lower than those of control group 6 months, 12 months after surgery(P<0.05). The VAS-Rest and VAS-Motion scoresofexperiment group were found significantly lower than those of control group 12 months after surgery(P<0.05).The MOCART scores of experiment group were found significant higher compared with control group12 months after surgery(P<0.05). No significant difference in WOMAC-Stiffness scores were found between the two groups.Conclusions:The short-term results of our study are encouraging and demonstrate that knee arthroscopy with infrapatellar fat pad cell concentrates containing mesenchymal stem cells is safe, and provides assistance in reducing pain and improvingfunction in patients with knee cartilage lesion.Trial registration: ChiCTR1800015379. Registered on 27 March 2018, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=25901.