Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review

<b>Background:</b> The term tendinopathy commonly describes a series of alterations in the tendon, leading in functional impairment and pain, treated with several approaches, including exercises, physical agents, and injection therapies. Among the latter, autologous tenocyte injection (A...

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Main Authors: Andrea Demeco, Alessandro de Sire, Antonello Salerno, Nicola Marotta, Beatrice Comuni, Matteo Gabbi, Lorenzo Lippi, Marco Invernizzi, Antonio Ammendolia, Cosimo Costantino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/95
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author Andrea Demeco
Alessandro de Sire
Antonello Salerno
Nicola Marotta
Beatrice Comuni
Matteo Gabbi
Lorenzo Lippi
Marco Invernizzi
Antonio Ammendolia
Cosimo Costantino
author_facet Andrea Demeco
Alessandro de Sire
Antonello Salerno
Nicola Marotta
Beatrice Comuni
Matteo Gabbi
Lorenzo Lippi
Marco Invernizzi
Antonio Ammendolia
Cosimo Costantino
author_sort Andrea Demeco
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> The term tendinopathy commonly describes a series of alterations in the tendon, leading in functional impairment and pain, treated with several approaches, including exercises, physical agents, and injection therapies. Among the latter, autologous tenocyte injection (ATI) involves harvesting tenocytes from a healthy tendon of the patients and then isolating the tenocytes and culturing for 4–5 weeks. To date, there is still a lack of consensus about the efficacy of ATI in improving pain and function; therefore, the present review aimed to assess the role of ATI in the treatment of chronic tendinopathies. <b>Methods:</b> Two authors conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar (PROSPERO: CRD42024565211). From 174 articles, we finally included 5 articles. <b>Results:</b> The main effect obtained was the pain relief and, consequently, the improvement of patients’ quality of life. The clinical improvement is also evident at MRI in which it is possible to see a progressive reduction with a general disappearance of the T2 signal hyperintensity between 4 months and 1 year. All the articles agree on the safety of ATI in chronic tendinopathies. <b>Conclusions:</b> ATI might represent a safe and valuable option in the management of chronic tendinopathies as a second line treatment in the case of resistant tendinopathies, with a minimal risk of side effects.
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spelling doaj-art-0dfafca6d42746af8b47e00405bd09c12025-08-20T02:42:34ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422025-03-011019510.3390/jfmk10010095Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic ReviewAndrea Demeco0Alessandro de Sire1Antonello Salerno2Nicola Marotta3Beatrice Comuni4Matteo Gabbi5Lorenzo Lippi6Marco Invernizzi7Antonio Ammendolia8Cosimo Costantino9Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, ItalyPhysical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, ItalyResearch Center on Musculoskeletal Health, MusculoSkeletalHealth@UMG, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Scientific Research, Campus LUdeS Lugano (CH), Off-Campus Semmelweis University of Budapest, 1071 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont “A. Avogadro”, 28100 Novara, ItalyPhysical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy<b>Background:</b> The term tendinopathy commonly describes a series of alterations in the tendon, leading in functional impairment and pain, treated with several approaches, including exercises, physical agents, and injection therapies. Among the latter, autologous tenocyte injection (ATI) involves harvesting tenocytes from a healthy tendon of the patients and then isolating the tenocytes and culturing for 4–5 weeks. To date, there is still a lack of consensus about the efficacy of ATI in improving pain and function; therefore, the present review aimed to assess the role of ATI in the treatment of chronic tendinopathies. <b>Methods:</b> Two authors conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar (PROSPERO: CRD42024565211). From 174 articles, we finally included 5 articles. <b>Results:</b> The main effect obtained was the pain relief and, consequently, the improvement of patients’ quality of life. The clinical improvement is also evident at MRI in which it is possible to see a progressive reduction with a general disappearance of the T2 signal hyperintensity between 4 months and 1 year. All the articles agree on the safety of ATI in chronic tendinopathies. <b>Conclusions:</b> ATI might represent a safe and valuable option in the management of chronic tendinopathies as a second line treatment in the case of resistant tendinopathies, with a minimal risk of side effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/95rehabilitationmusculoskeletal diseasesregenerative medicine
spellingShingle Andrea Demeco
Alessandro de Sire
Antonello Salerno
Nicola Marotta
Beatrice Comuni
Matteo Gabbi
Lorenzo Lippi
Marco Invernizzi
Antonio Ammendolia
Cosimo Costantino
Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
rehabilitation
musculoskeletal diseases
regenerative medicine
title Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review
title_full Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review
title_short Effects of Autologous Tenocyte Injection for Overuse and Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review
title_sort effects of autologous tenocyte injection for overuse and degenerative tendinopathies a systematic review
topic rehabilitation
musculoskeletal diseases
regenerative medicine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/1/95
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