#Japan #Tokyo #Knee Osteoarthritis #Mesenchymal Stem Cells #PFC-FD™

Promising Insights into Knee Osteoarthritis Treatments

Recent findings from a comprehensive study suggest that assessing pre-treatment pain levels using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) could be crucial in determining the most effective treatment choices for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Led by Dr. Hiroto Hanai of the Knee Osteoarthritis Clinic, this research analyzed data from 1,990 patients across 14 facilities in Japan and aimed to scrutinize the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell therapy when combined with standard treatments.

Background and Purpose

The Knee Osteoarthritis Clinic specializes in regenerative medicine therapies for knee pain, employing two main approaches: a standalone therapy utilizing platelet-derived factors and a combined method integrating mesenchymal stem cells. Previously, the clinic observed a tendency for more advanced osteoarthritis patients to gravitate towards the combined therapy, complicating direct comparisons of treatment efficacy. This led to the decision to utilize the widely accepted pain evaluation metric, VAS, to identify potential benchmarks for treatment selection.

Study and Results

The investigation focused on how the baseline pain level—measured by VAS scores—could influence treatment selection and outcomes. The findings revealed that patients registering a VAS score of 50 or above demonstrated significantly greater pain improvement when treated with the combined PFC-FD™ and mesenchymal stem cell therapy versus those receiving PFC-FD™ alone. Conversely, patients with VAS scores below 50 showed no significant differences in outcomes between the two treatment modalities.

Notably, this trend was validated by both the three-month actual data and the six-month estimated outcomes, strengthening the reliability of the results.

Future Directions

Moving forward, the clinic aims to incorporate additional variables such as patient age and the degree of knee deformity (KL grade) into their analysis. This broader approach will help identify patient profiles that are likely to benefit most from specific treatment strategies.

The study was presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Arthrology in Yokohama in July 2026. Dr. Hanai hopes that these findings will guide clinicians in making informed decisions tailored to individual patient needs.

About the Knee Osteoarthritis Clinic

The Knee Osteoarthritis Clinic operates under the mission of providing cutting-edge regenerative medicine treatments to help patients regain their quality of life. The clinic adheres to a philosophy of not merely alleviating pain but empowering patients to reclaim their lifestyle and precious moments. The clinic's endeavors in both clinical practice and research aim to innovate in the field of osteoarthritis treatment.

Company Details

• - Name: Medical Corporation Katsujukai Knee Osteoarthritis Clinic
• - Address: 9F Takara Building, 1-4-11 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
• - Chairman: Masaki Otsuji
• - Phone Number: +81-3-6705-8994
• - Website: Knee Joint Clinic
• - Business Type: Specialized clinic for knee pain utilizing regenerative therapies
• - Established: March 2015