Effects of Intra-articular Bone Marrow Aspirate Infiltration in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Clinical Study Comparing BMA versus Corticosteroid and Genicular Block

Abstract

Objective To assess the efficacy of autologous bone marrow aspirate (BMA) in reducing pain and improving functionality in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), in comparison with intraarticular corticosteroid injection and genicular nerve block.

Methods A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded, comparative, and analytical clinical study was conducted. There were 50 patients with knee OA divided into two groups: an intervention group receiving BMA treatment and a control group undergoing standard corticosteroid articular infiltration and genicular block. Outcome measures were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC).

Results After 6 months, significant pain reduction was noted in the BMA group compared with the control group (p = 0.030). No significant differences were found in stiffness and physical activity scores between the groups. The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in all assessed WOMAC subcategories pre- and posttreatment.

Conclusions Treatment with BMA can significantly reduce pain, potentially leading to an improved functionality, suggesting its potential as a viable therapeutic option for managing knee OA.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar a eficácia do aspirado de medula óssea autólogo (BMA) na redução da dor e melhoria da funcionalidade em pacientes com osteoartrite (OA) de joelho, comparando com a infiltração intra-articular com corticoide e bloqueio genicular.

Métodos Foi conduzido um estudo clínico prospectivo, randomizado, controlado, simples-cego, comparativo e analítico. Foram 50 pacientes com osteoartrite de joelho, divididos em dois grupos: um grupo de intervenção recebendo tratamento com BMA e um grupo controle submetido à infiltração articular padrão com corticoide e bloqueio genicular. Os resultados foram avaliados usando o Índice de Osteoartrite das Universidades de Western Ontario e McMaster (WOMAC).

Resultados Após 6 meses, uma redução significativa da dor foi observada no grupo BMA em comparação ao grupo controle (p = 0.030). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nos escores de rigidez e atividade física entre os grupos. O grupo de intervenção demonstrou melhorias significativas em todas as subcategorias do WOMAC avaliadas antes e após o tratamento.

Conclusão O tratamento com BMA pode reduzir significativamente a dor, possibilitando uma possível melhora funcional, sugerindo seu potencial como uma opção terapêutica viável no manejo da OA de joelho.

Keywords

bone marrow - injections, intra-articular - osteoarthritis, knee - pain management

Palavras-chave

injeções intra-articulares - manejo da dor - medula óssea - osteoartrite de joelho

Authors' Contributions

Each author contributed individually and significantly to the development of this article. RC: study conceptualization, methodology, and writing – original draft. DMP: study validation, visualization, and writing – original draft. MVAK: writing – review & editing. TLVR: study conceptualization and validation. RLO: study conceptualization and validation. DAL: data curation, formal analysis, writing – review & editing.

Financial Support

The authors declare that they did not receive financial support from agencies in the public, private, or non-profit sectors to conduct the present study.

Work carried out at the Hospital Otavio de Freitas, Recife, PE, Brazil.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 21. Juni 2024

Angenommen: 02. Oktober 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
14. Juni 2025

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