Summary: A new study shows that injecting fat into the finger joints may give lasting relief from finger osteoarthritis. The fat is taken from other parts of the patient’s own body, so the treatment is very safe. Osteoarthritis of the finger joints is very disabling. Drugs can ease the pain, but they cannot stop the disease from getting worse. So patients have to take pills every day.
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of joint pain. It is a wear-and-tear disease that mostly hits weight-bearing joints like knees and hips. It is more likely in people with built-in weak spots, metabolic disorders, and more. Most people diagnosed with it are middle-aged or older. Osteoarthritis in the fingers is less common, but it is not rare.
Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear disease of older adults, so it is hard to treat. The changes in the joints are almost impossible to undo. That means people with it must live with the pain for life. Chronic joint pain can be very disabling.
Osteoarthritis gets worse slowly over the years. It may not be reversible, but doctors can treat it and give chronic pain relief. Still, most people will have to take anti-inflammatory pills (NSAIDs) every day.
How does lipofilling relieve finger osteoarthritis?
Daily painkillers help, but taking pills every day is hard. Drugs can also cause many side effects. So researchers tested a new, safe, minimally invasive treatment called lipofilling. Doctors inject a patient’s own fat into the joints. The fat is first removed by liposuction from another part of the body, such as the upper thighs.
The procedure is safe because doctors inject only a tiny amount of fat into the joint. They inject just one milliliter of fat into the arthritic finger joint. In the new study, researchers found that this simple procedure worked amazingly well, giving almost instant relief. Patients wore a splint and took painkillers for a week. After that, they felt deep relief. And the procedure caused no complications.
The study was done in 25 finger joints. Researchers checked on the patients regularly for 44 months, paying close attention to pain scores. They say the benefit was significant (too big to be chance).
Before treatment, patients had a pain score of 6 out of ten. After treatment, the score was just 0.5, which is only a mild sense of discomfort. The researchers say they were amazed by these results. The treatment was especially good at lowering pain scores.
Patients also showed better joint health and function. For example, their pinch grip strength almost doubled, from a median of 2 kg to 4.3 kg. That is a huge difference. It means the treatment not only eased pain but also improved hand use and quality of life for people with chronic pain from finger osteoarthritis.
In recent years, lipofilling has become very popular. It is used a lot in cosmetic and repair surgery. Lipofilling works so well for osteoarthritis because it may help reverse the disease. Animal studies show these fat cells are rich in mesenchymal stromal cells (a kind of stem cell). So lipofilling helps tissue regrow in arthritic joints.
But the researchers admit more studies are needed to fully understand the benefits. For example, they need studies with control groups. They also need to learn the long-term benefits.
Still, there is no doubt this treatment is very promising. It is minimally invasive, safe, and easy to do. It helps keep the joint’s structure and helps tissue repair itself. So many people with chronic pain from osteoarthritis may benefit. It may also help them stop needing a daily painkiller.
The Takeaway
Chronic pain is often more than discomfort. It can point to a complex medical problem that needs a specialist. The Padda Institute offers full complex regional pain syndrome treatment to suit your needs. Book your appointment today and get chronic pain relief right away.
Frequently asked questions
How long does fat transfer in the fingers last?
In the study, researchers followed patients for 44 months, and the relief held. Pain scores fell from 6 out of 10 before treatment to 0.5 afterward, little more than mild discomfort. The researchers still want longer studies with control groups to learn the full long-term benefit. But nearly four years of follow-up is already far longer than a daily painkiller lasts.
What are the downsides of fat grafting for finger arthritis?
Recovery is short. Patients wore a splint and took painkillers for about a week. The procedure caused no complications in the study. Only about one milliliter of your own fat goes into the joint. It is taken by liposuction from an area such as the upper thigh. The main limit is the evidence. The study covered 25 finger joints and had no control group.
Does lipofilling improve grip strength?
Yes. Beyond pain relief, patients regained use of the treated fingers. Their pinch grip strength almost doubled, from a median of 2 kg to 4.3 kg. So the treatment did more than quiet the pain. It improved how the hand works in daily life and the quality of life of people with finger osteoarthritis.
Is lipofilling better than taking painkillers every day?
For many people it may be. Anti-inflammatory drugs ease finger osteoarthritis pain but do not stop the disease from getting worse. So patients end up taking them daily and risk their side effects. Lipofilling is minimally invasive and uses your own tissue. In the study, it gave lasting relief after a single week of splinting and painkillers. That may let patients live without the daily dose.
Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP
