Lipofilling in Osteoarthritis of the Finger Joints: Initial Prospective Long-Term Results.

Background: There is considerable interest in the possibility of offering an alternative and less invasive method of treatment for osteoarthritis that will preserve the joint. This article presents for the first time the long-term results of a prospective study following autologous fat transfer to arthritic finger joints.

Methods: The authors report on 28 finger joints with osteoarthritis that they treated by injecting fatty tissue into the joints. The degree of pain, force of pinch grip, and fist closure were assessed and hand function was determined using the German version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire.

Results: The average follow-up period during the study was 44 months. The median force of pinch grip rose highly significantly from 2.00 kg (range, 0.00 to 11.00 kg) to 4.30 kg (range, 2.00 to 12.00 kg) (p < 0.001). The median force of fist closure rose from 15.00 kg (range, 2.00 to 44.00 kg) to 18.00 kg (range, 3.78 to 42.00 kg) (p = 0.082). The median Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand value improved nonsignificantly from 50 (range, 3 to 72) to 25 (range, 0 to 85) (p = 0.129). The median level of pain experienced showed a highly significant improvement from 6.0 (range, 1.0 to 10.0) to 0.5 (range, 0.0 to 6.5) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Even over a long-term study period, the transfer of fatty tissue to arthritic finger joints has shown itself to be a minimally invasive, safe and promising alternative treatment to conventional surgical procedures that offers significant improvements in terms of osteoarthritis symptoms. Because this method preserves the joint, conventional resection surgery still remains a later option.

Clinical Question/level Of Evidence: Therapeutic, IV.