Source: Intra-articular allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell injections for stage III knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial with 60-month follow-up, Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 27 Apr 2026. Summary written by Future Health GCC.
What happened
Researchers at the Cell Therapy Center of the University of Jordan in Amman have published five-year results from a trial of stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis. The study appeared in Stem Cells Translational Medicine in April 2026.
What they did
Patients with painful stage III knee osteoarthritis were randomly given either two injections of mesenchymal stromal cells grown from donated fat (adipose) tissue, two weeks apart, or two injections of salt water as a placebo. Neither patients nor doctors knew who had received which for the first 12 months. The treated group was then followed for five years. In total, 29 people completed the study: 21 who had cells and 8 who had placebo.
What they found
Side effects in the treated group were mild and short-lived, mainly pain and swelling at the injection site. Patients who received the cells had significant improvements in knee scores compared with where they started, lasting up to three years, and MRI scans at 12 months showed structural improvement in the knee.
After three years the benefits steadily faded, and by five years scores were close to where patients had started.
How far along it is
This was a small trial at a single centre. The researchers say larger trials are needed to work out the best dose and how long the benefit can last.
What it means for families
It is encouraging long-term evidence that stem cells from adipose tissue can safely ease knee osteoarthritis for several years. It is not a permanent fix, and it is not yet a standard treatment.
Read the original article on Stem Cells Translational Medicine →
This is a summary of published research, written by Future Health GCC. It is not medical advice. Speak to your doctor about any treatment.
Photo: AKha, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).