The Effect of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Knee Osteoarthritis

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 35 and 70 years-old
• Patient is scheduled to undergo one or a combination of the following procedures:
• Meniscal debridement or partial menisectomy
• Meniscal repair that does not necessitate a different postoperative protocol frommeniscal debridement or partial menisectomy
• Removal of loose bodies
• Chondroplasty
• Synovectomy
• Soft tissue releases for flexion or extension contracture.
• Diagnosis of pre-existing mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the medial or lateralfemoral condyle (Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 2 or 3)
• < 6 months of knee pain or < 6 months of a significant exacerbation of existing kneepain
• Physical examination findings consistent with the proposed surgical procedure.
• Failure of conservative therapy consisting of a minimum of 6 weeks of physical therapyand trial of anti-inflammatory medications, with or without concomitant bracing and/orinjections

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 35 or > 70 years old
• Radiographs demonstrating either no, little or severe osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 0, 1 or 4)
• Previous injury or surgery to the infrapatellar fat pad (assessed by MRI)
• Patient scheduled to undergo any concomitant surgical procedures with the exceptionof:
• Meniscal debridement or partial menisectomy
• Meniscal repair that does not necessitate a different postoperative protocol frommeniscal debridement or partial menisectomy
• Removal of loose bodies
• Chondroplasty
• Synovectomy
• Soft tissue releases for flexion or extension contracture
• Prior surgery on ipsilateral knee involving cartilage regeneration (microfracture,Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation, etc) or meniscal transplant/implant
• Previous arthroscopy within 1 year
• Subchondral edema