Summary

Mesenchymal Stem Cells offer a reliable and stable cartilage lesion treatment in a mid-term period

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present prospective case series study was to evaluate the 5-years follow-up results of this matrix-induced cell-based technique, comparing them with the previous results of each p.o. year.

Methods

and Materials
Twenty-six ICRS grade 3 and 4 cartilage lesion (mean size 4.2 cm2 (range 1.7 – 5.9 cm2) in 24 patients (13 male and 11 female) (mean age 29.06 years) were treated with matrix-induced autologous transplantation of adipose-derived MSCs. This single-staged procedure involved filling of each defect with autologous culture-expanded MSCs embedded in a trimmed-to-fit biodegradable matrix. The patients were followed at 1st, 3rd, 6th,12th, 24th, 36th, 48th and 60th p.o. month (mean follow-up 50.2 months) and their outcome analysis was based on the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) forms, whereas the repeated measures ANOVA was used (p<0.05).?he patients underwent MRI scanning at each p.o. year, evaluated through MOCART scoring system.

Results

No complications and/or adverse events or reoperation had been reported; ANOVA results indicated significant change over time for the IKDC scale and all KOOS subscales (p<0.001). In particullar, post hoc testing confirmed significant changes in the IKDC scale and QOL subscale between all time points (p<0.001 to p=0.001), whereas in the Pain, Symptoms and Sport-Recreation subscales between all time points of measurements (p<0.001 to p=0.046) except from the 3rd to 4th p.o. year. The ADL subscale changed significantly in each time period p.o. (p<0.001 to p=0.019), but did not change significantly after the 2nd p.o. year. The MOCART score revealed significant development of tissue resembling the healthy cartilage after the 2nd p.o. year which stayed steady afterwards.

Conclusion

This study has shown satisfying results which are steady 5 years after MSCs implantation for focal cartilage lesions.

Keywords: Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Implantation, Knee Cartilage Lesions