Contextual effects of mesenchymal stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To quantify the proportion of the overall clinical improvement produced by intra-articular mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injections for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) that is attributable to contextual (placebo-related) effects.

Methods

This PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD420251026818) searched five databases (CENTRAL, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus) to 24 March 2025. Randomized controlled trials enrolling adults with KOA that compared MSC injections with inert placebo were included. Primary outcome was change in pain intensity (VAS or WOMAC-pain); physical function was analysed secondarily. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. The proportion of the treatment effect attributable to contextual fa

SUBMITTER: Yin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12487426 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature