Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread and disabling condition that significantly compromises daily function, with prevalence steadily rising due to ageing populations, increasing obesity, and sports-related injuries.

Conventional nonsurgical treatments—such as physical therapy, medications, and intra-articular injections—often provide only temporary and inconsistent relief, while total hip arthroplasty, although effective, carries notable risks, especially for younger patients. This has driven the search for innovative, less invasive therapies capable of delaying or avoiding surgery in early-stage disease.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have recently emerged as a promising biological approach for hip OA thanks to their anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. In particular, adipose-derived MSCs are gaining attention due to their high cellular yield and biological potential. Among minimally manipulated cell-based therapies, micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) represents an attractive option, as it preserves the native tissue structure and provides a rich source of cells and growth factors without enzymatic processing or cell expansion. While MFAT has shown encouraging clinical results in knee OA, evidence for its use in hip OA remains limited.

This prospective study aims to assess the clinical outcomes of a single ultrasound-guided intra-articular MFAT injection in young to middle-aged patients with symptomatic mild to moderate hip osteoarthritis, exploring its potential as a safe and effective regenerative treatment option