Background: The purpose of this study was to see if percutaneously injected autologous mesenchymal stem cells, platelet lysate, and dexamethasone could reduce this patient’s knee cartilage defect size.
Case Report: A study patient’s mesenchymal stem cells were obtained from her iliac crest bone marrow, isolated and expanded in culture. They were then injected into her knee along with autologous platelet lysate to enhance growth, and nanogram doses of dexamethasone to promote differentiation to chondrocytes. Pre and post treatment MRI imaging, physical therapy and pain score data were then analyzed.
Conclusions: This patient’s MRI data showed a significant decrease in cartilage defect size. Along with this, her measured physical therapy outcomes and subjective pain and functional status all improved. Autologous mesenchymal stem cell injection, in conjunction with platelet lysate and low-dose dexamethasone are a promising minimally invasive therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Cartilage, autologous mesenchymal stem cells, Knee, platelet lysate, Dexamethasone, Regeneration