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Non-Surgical Osteoarthritis Treatment in Malmo

Treatment of arthritic knees, hips and other joints using SVF and PRP. A doctor reviews your MRI or X-rays free to establish the stage

Consultation and review of your scansFree

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Knee joint: regenerative treatment without surgery
Joint treatment without surgery. Free consultation and review of your scans

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What it is

What is osteoarthritis
(arthrosis)?

Osteoarthritis, also called arthrosis, is a chronic condition in which the cartilage lining a joint gradually thins and wears away. Cartilage works as a shock absorber; as it breaks down, the bones start to rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness and a smaller range of movement. It is a degenerative rather than an inflammatory disease, although flare-ups with swelling do happen.

  • No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
  • Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
  • Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Knee joint: an injection under ultrasound guidance

Who the treatment suits

Only a doctor, after an examination and a review of scans, decides whether this treatment suits you

Suitable

A doctor reviews knee X-rays with a patient
  • Pain, crunching or stiffness in a joint
  • Painkillers only help for a short time
  • Recovery after injuries and surgery
  • You need a second opinion on your scans
  • You want to avoid or postpone joint replacement
  • Early or moderate arthrosis or arthritis
  • High load on the joints — sport or physical work

Not suitable

A doctor examines a patient's knee
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
  • Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
  • Temporary contraindications: fever, flu or a cold, inflamed skin over the joint that is to be treated

Not sure the treatment is right for you?

Leave your number — the coordinator will ask for your scans (X-ray, MRI or ultrasound), and the doctor will tell you whether treatment without surgery suits you.

Find out if it suits me

What we treat

Conditions we treat

How it works

How the procedure goes: step by step

Consultation and scan review1

Consultation and scan review

An examination of the joint and a review of your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound let the doctor decide if the procedure is suitable. Existing scans can be sent in advance of the visit.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

From a vein, a small amount of blood is taken — it will later be used to prepare platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The material is injected directly into the affected joint, guided by ultrasound for precise placement.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in touch afterwards and follows the joint's response.

Book a consultation

Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation

A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment
Book a consultation
A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment

Results

After the procedure

  • Doctor talking warmly with a patient after the procedure

    1 week

    The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.

  • Doctor consulting an older patient one month after treatment

    1 month

    The pain usually eases.

  • Doctor explaining progress to a patient using a knee joint model

    ~3 months

    Mobility and activity improve.

  • Doctor and patient walking together at a follow-up visit

    ~6 months

    The full effect develops.

How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no one can promise a fixed result.

Comparison

Methods we use

Your own blood and adipose tissue are the only materials used — nothing donor or synthetic

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

From a small sample of your adipose tissue, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is isolated — a set of cells involved in repairing tissue. Mixed with your own plasma, it is then injected into the joint that is affected.

A doctor explains SVF cell therapy for the knee to a patient on a tablet

Doctors use it chiefly in early and moderate osteoarthritis, aiming to slow cartilage wear and cut friction between the joint surfaces.

Material
Your adipose tissue and plasma
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood

The joint receives an injection of plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, prepared from a small amount of your blood. It helps reduce inflammation and creates a better setting for tissue repair.

A doctor explains PRP therapy for joints to a patient on a monitor

Often chosen for mild osteoarthritis, and paired with SVF if a stronger effect is needed.

Material
Your blood from a vein
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

The benefits and timings shown are averaged and given for guidance: the plan and recovery depend on your joint and individual features, and the doctor confirms them at the consultation.

At the consultation the doctor will review your scans and suggest a treatment plan

Free consultation

Book a consultation

Joints

Joints we treat

Large or small joints: your scans come first, then the doctor decides on the joint, the method and the number of injections

  • KneeKneePain after walking and climbing stairs, worn cartilage, meniscus problems
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain as the arm goes up, wear in the joint and surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowWear of the joint surfaces and pain after overuse or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsFinger and wrist small joints affected by pain and stiffness
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

We work on keeping your own joint rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Your own blood and adipose tissue are the only materials used — nothing donor or synthetic

No crutches

No crutches

Only punctures, no incisions — under local anaesthetic and without a long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Send your reports, X-rays or MRI, and a doctor will independently assess them free of charge

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

Not just the injection day — we stay in touch after the procedure and follow your result

About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient at the clinic

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

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Request a free call

Price

Osteoarthritis treatment prices

The stage of osteoarthritis, the joint and the method all affect the cost, so it is named after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Osteoarthritis treatment in Malmo: a short guide

Treatment of osteoarthritis in Malmo uses your own tissue: plasma from a small blood sample and the stromal vascular fraction from a small sample of adipose tissue. There is no donor or synthetic material.

Many patients in Malmo notice the first changes 2–3 weeks after the procedure. A stable result forms over about six months and can last from several months to several years, depending on the individual.

The price depends on how many joints are treated and on the method. For patients from Malmo, the doctor explains the plan and the cost at a free consultation before any procedure.

Cartilage wear in a growing, bike-minded city

Malmo municipality ended 2025 with 367,924 inhabitants, the third largest in Sweden, and the number rose by 2,280 people, or 0.6%, over the year. The urban area covers about 80.67 km2 and the wider metropolitan population was 780,035 in 2024. A city of this size contains every kind of joint story: office workers who sit most of the day, people on their feet in shops, healthcare and logistics, and former athletes whose knees remember old seasons. Osteoarthritis does not belong to any one of these groups. It is the slow, chronic wear of the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones, and it develops wherever a joint carries load for years.

Healthy cartilage softens impact. When it thins, the bones begin to rub, and the joint hurts, stiffens and moves less. The knees (gonarthrosis) and hips (coxarthrosis) are affected most because they carry the greatest load. The ankle and the small joints of the hand follow. This is a degenerative condition, not an inflammatory one, although flare-ups with swelling do happen. That distinction matters in practice. Aching pain on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest point towards osteoarthritis. Pain at rest and at night, redness, warmth and swelling point towards arthritis. The treatment approach differs, so diagnosis comes first.

Malmo is also a place where a lot of daily movement happens on two wheels. The city has 410 km of cycle paths. The share of commuting done by bicycle is given as about 40% in one account and 30% of trips in another, so the exact figure depends on how it is counted. Either way, cycling is a normal part of the working week here. For a joint with early osteoarthritis this is mostly good news. Cycling is one of the activities that suits arthritic joints, along with swimming, water aerobics, Nordic walking and yoga, because it builds the muscles that unload the joint without pounding it. Running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements are the things to avoid.

Cold months, damp air and morning stiffness

Many patients with osteoarthritis describe the first minutes after getting up as the worst part of the day. Stiffness after rest is a typical sign of the condition, and long, dark winters give it more opportunities to show itself. In Malmo the coldest months are January and February, with mean daily highs of 2.9 °C and 3.0 °C and mean lows of −1.4 °C and −1.5 °C. December is slightly milder, with a mean high of 4.8 °C and a low of 0.7 °C. The record low is −28.0 °C, although a typical winter is far from that.

Snow falls mainly from December to March. Snow cover is brief and some winters have none, so the season is more about grey, damp and cool days than about deep frost. Relative humidity averages 80.7% across the year, and December receives only 33.1 hours of sunshine. By comparison, May brings 274.4 hours, July 272.1 and June 271.5. The year as a whole has 1,917.7 hours of sun.

There is no reason to claim that cold weather wears out cartilage, and the doctor will not make that claim. What can be said is practical. When daylight is short and the weather is unpleasant, the habit of daily movement is easy to lose, and less movement means weaker muscles around the knee or hip. The ones that carry the load are the same ones that protect the joint. Anyone planning to treat a joint is wise to think about the months that follow the procedure. The service text describes the early reaction as a slightly more aching joint in the first week, which is an expected response. The pain usually eases by about one month, mobility and activity improve by about three months, and the full effect develops by about six months. A procedure in autumn therefore shows its results when the light returns, and one in spring allows the early stage to coincide with long evenings for gentle walks.

Annual precipitation is 673.2 mm. August is the wettest month at 86.3 mm, while April is the driest at 30.0 mm. For someone who wants to keep up a low-impact exercise routine, it is useful to have an indoor option for rainy days, such as water aerobics or a stationary bike. The summer sea, with the shallow beach at Ribersborg and the boardwalks of the Western Harbour popular for bathing, offers a gentle setting for swimming, which loads the joints far less than walking on a hard surface.

Body weight, work and sport: what the load really is

Among the factors that shape how long the effect of treatment lasts, the service text lists the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other individual features. No one can promise a fixed result. This is why a consultation does not start with the injection. It starts with the joint, the scans and a frank conversation about load.

Weight is the part of the conversation that residents of Malmo are often already familiar with from the health system. Swedish public guidance for weight-loss surgery, published on the national health portal 1177, mentions age 18 or older, a BMI over 40, or a BMI over 35 with a weight-related disease, together with serious earlier attempts to lose weight. The criteria differ between regions. Malmo also has an obesity clinic with a non-surgical programme that accepts adults with a BMI of 35 or more for at least five years, or a BMI of 30 or more for five years with a complicating disease such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea, after repeated attempts to lose weight. These are separate care routes and have nothing to do with joint injections. They are mentioned because for a knee or a hip, controlling weight, regular exercise and cooperation with a doctor make a real difference to how the condition develops. If you are already in such a programme, tell the coordinator, because it is part of the picture that the doctor considers.

Work and sport load are the other two parts. The football club Malmo FF plays in Allsvenskan and reached the 1979 European Cup final. FC Rosengard has won the women's league 10 times, and the Malmo Redhawks play in the SHL ice hockey league. Such a sporting culture produces recreational players at every level, and old sports injuries are a classic route to early osteoarthritis. The service text lists recovery after injuries and surgery, meniscus pathology and high load on the joints, whether from sport or physical work, among the situations for which the treatment is considered.

The city also has a large student and academic population. Malmo University was established in 1998 and reported about 24,000 students and 1,600 employees in 2014. Lund University runs parts of its medical faculty in Malmo, and the World Maritime University is also based here. Young people rarely think about cartilage, but they are not exempt from joint pain after injuries. A second opinion on an old MRI is just as legitimate at 28 as at 68.

How care is organised in Skane, and where an online consultation fits

Sweden has a national care time framework known as the 0-3-90-90 rule. Contact with primary care is possible the same day, a medical assessment should happen within three days, an appointment with a specialist within 90 days, and treatment within 90 days of the decision to treat. Regions may set shorter limits. For a person with a painful knee, this describes the public route: first primary care, then possibly referral. Some people prefer to supplement that route with a second opinion while they wait, and an online review of scans can serve that purpose without interfering with it.

On the cost side, Skane has a patient fee system with a fixed amount per visit at a health centre or specialist outpatient clinic, a higher amount at an emergency department, and a ceiling on total outpatient fees over twelve months. There is no fee for those under age 20 or from age 85. The high-cost protection for outpatient care sets the same ceiling, and certificates, vaccinations and inpatient daily fees are usually not included. These rules concern the public system. The treatment described on this website is arranged separately. The doctor quotes its cost after the consultation, because it depends on the joint, the method and the stage of the osteoarthritis. The review of your scans and the first online consultation carry no charge.

SVF and PRP use your own blood and adipose tissue and nothing donor or synthetic. They are not a substitute for a diagnosis. A doctor decides after examining the joint and reviewing an X-ray, MRI or ultrasound whether the treatment suits you, and will say frankly if a joint replacement is the more realistic choice. Contraindications include cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders and acute infections, especially in or near the joint. A raised temperature, a cold or flu, or inflamed skin above the target joint are temporary reasons to wait.

Planning around the Swedish calendar

Because the consultation is online and coordinators answer round the clock on WhatsApp and Telegram, you can send scans on any evening, including those that fall on public holidays. Swedish public holidays include 1 January, 6 January, Good Friday, Easter, 1 May, Ascension, Pentecost, National Day on 6 June, Midsummer Day, All Saints' Day and 25 and 26 December. Midsummer Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are in practice full days off. Local public services slow down around these dates, so it can be useful to collect your X-ray or MRI reports beforehand.

The procedure itself is done in one day. After a consultation and review of scans, a small blood sample is taken for PRP. Under local anaesthetic, the doctor collects roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, and no stitches are needed. The samples are spun in a centrifuge, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and blended with the platelet-rich plasma, and the material is injected into the joint under ultrasound. There are no crutches and no hospital stay. The doctor stays in touch afterwards and follows how the joint responds.

Those choosing a date might think about the city's calendar. Malmofestivalen takes place in the third week of August, BUFF in March, Nordisk Panorama in September and the Nordic Game conference in April or May. None of these has any bearing on the medicine, but they illustrate a simple point: the first week after the injection is when the joint may ache a little more, so a quieter few days is sensible, and the following weeks are the time to restart gentle movement.

Do the long Malmo winters make osteoarthritis worse?

Winter does not wear out cartilage, but stiffness after rest is a typical sign of osteoarthritis, and short days with temperatures around 3 °C in January and February can make it easier to move less. Weaker muscles unload the joint less well. A plan that keeps you active through the dark months matters more than the weather itself, and the doctor will discuss suitable exercise at the consultation.

Is cycling to work in Malmo safe for an arthritic knee?

Cycling is among the activities that generally suit osteoarthritis, together with swimming, water aerobics, Nordic walking and yoga, because it strengthens the muscles that unload the joint. Running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements are best avoided. If a particular movement hurts, tell the doctor, who will consider it together with your scans.

Can I use the Swedish care time limits and still ask for an online review?

Yes. The national 0-3-90-90 framework describes the public route through primary care and specialist assessment, and regions may set shorter limits. An online review of your X-ray or MRI is a separate, no-charge step. It can give you a second opinion on the stage while you wait for other appointments.

Does patient fee protection in Skane cover this treatment?

The outpatient fee ceiling and the high-cost protection apply to visits within the public system, and items such as certificates and inpatient daily fees are usually excluded. The treatment described here is arranged separately, and the doctor quotes its cost after the consultation, depending on the joint, the method and the stage. The coordinator can answer questions about this in writing.

Does my body weight affect whether SVF and PRP are suitable?

Body weight is one of the factors that influence how long the effect lasts, along with the stage, activity and individual features. It does not by itself exclude you. Swedish public guidance and the Malmo obesity clinic have their own criteria for weight programmes, and these are separate routes. Tell the coordinator if you are in one, because the doctor takes it into account.

Which scans should I collect before the consultation?

An X-ray remains the main method and shows the stage. MRI gives a detailed picture of cartilage and soft tissues, ultrasound shows inflammation and fluid, and blood tests help rule out inflammatory disease. Send what you already have through WhatsApp or Telegram, and a doctor will review it at no charge.

Is it better to have the procedure before or after the dark months?

There is no season that suits everyone. The first week may bring slightly more aching, pain usually eases by about one month, mobility improves by about three months and the full effect develops by about six months. Choose a date that leaves a quiet first week and lets you restart gentle movement afterwards, and the doctor will confirm the timing.

How do public holidays such as Midsummer or Christmas affect arranging a consultation?

Coordinators answer round the clock, so you can send scans and questions even on days when Swedish services are closed, including Midsummer Eve and Christmas Eve. Scheduling the consultation itself is agreed with the coordinator, and the doctor reviews your case before any decision about treatment.