Cartilage Damage

Focal cartilage lesions occur in the knee and ankle; SVF is usually studied as a surgical adjunct rather than a standalone treatment.

The hypothesis is support of local tissue repair through growth factors and extracellular matrix.

Human studies are small and often lack appropriate controls.

Reported adverse events are mostly local — swelling, pain, or bruising at the harvest and injection sites. Infection and cell-processing quality remain the key risks to monitor.

Existing studies are limited by sample size, methodology, and follow-up, and SVF preparation differs substantially between centres, making cross-study comparison difficult.