Back to search results

BMAC vs. Corticosteroid Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis

This study is comparing two treatments for knee osteoarthritis (OA), a condition causing knee pain: autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and corticosteroid injections. BMAC uses your own bone marrow, while corticosteroid injections are a standard treatment. You may be able to join if you are 18-70 years old, have long-standing knee pain from OA (grades 2-3) despite other treatments, and have a pain score of at least 4 out of 10. The study aims to see if BMAC can reduce pain and improve knee function better than corticosteroid injections. We are looking for 100 participants, and the study status is currently unclear.

Study design
This is a randomized controlled trial where participants are assigned by chance to receive either BMAC or corticosteroid injections. Participants will not know which treatment they are receiving.
What's involved
Participants will receive an injection and have follow-up appointments for up to 6 months, or up to 12 months if they switch treatment groups.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for up to 6 months after their injection, or up to 12 months if they cross over to a different treatment group.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05985785

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) vs Corticosteroid Injection

Recruiting
NAAges 18–70Interventional
Rush University Medical Center
~100 participants
Updated 2026-08-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)Corticosteroid injectionsCrossover Autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain
Measured over Enrollment up to 6 months postoperatively (12 months if crossover from ARM 3 to ARM 1)
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Explore related trials

Osteoarthritis of knee

NCT05985785

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Rush University Medical Center

    Chicago, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Jorge Chahla, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Rush University Medical Center Associate Professor and Surgeon

Who to contact

Carla M. Edwards, PhD
[email protected]
312-563-5735
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Patients between the ages of 18-70
Long standing knee pain from osteoarthritis (KL grade 2-3) despite conventional treatments such as activity modification, weight loss, physical therapy, analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or injection therapy for at least 6 weeks
7-day average pain score of at least 4 on VAS scale

Exclusion

Systemic diseases (Diabetes, malignancies, infections, etc.)
Post-traumatic arthritis
Patient had intra-articular injection on affected knee in last three months

What this trial measures

  • Visual analogue scale (VAS) for painEnrollment up to 6 months postoperatively (12 months if crossover from ARM 3 to ARM 1)

    The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measures pain intensity. The VAS consists of a 10cm line, with two end points representing 0 ('no pain') and 10 ('pain as bad as it could possibly be'). Ask the patient to rate their current level of pain by placing a mark on the line.

  • Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP)Enrollment up to 6 months postoperatively (12 months if crossover from ARM 3 to ARM 1)

    13 items survey that assess two forms of pain reported by people with osteoarthritis: intermittent and constant pain.

  • Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)Enrollment up to 6 months postoperatively (12 months if crossover from ARM 3 to ARM 1)

    The KOOS evaluates both short-term and long-term consequences of knee injury. It holds 42 items in 5 separately scored subscales; Pain, other Symptoms, Function in daily living (ADL), Function in Sport and Recreation (Sport/Rec), and knee-related Quality of Life (QOL)