SVF
Level B· Emerging Clinical EvidenceRandomized Controlled Trial

Adding microfracture to an SVF-based arthroscopic pathway was associated with greater 24-month improvements in pain, function and MRI cartilage morphology in KL II-III knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.

Yenigün MY., Demirel M., Bayram S., Canbolat N., Ergin ÖN., Aşık M.

Randomized Controlled Trial on Knee Osteoarthritis, Osteoarthritis, Cartilage Damage, published in Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

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Study type
Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal
Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2026)
Country
Germany
Reported sample size
—
PMID
41815082
DOI
10.1002/ksa.70377

Abstract (original English)

To determine whether adding arthroscopic microfracture provides incremental clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based structural benefit within a standardized stromal vascular fraction (SVF)-based arthroscopic treatment pathway for moderate knee osteoarthritis. In this prospective, single-centre randomized controlled trial, patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-III knee osteoarthritis and a contained, full-thickness chondral lesion confirmed at arthroscopy were randomized to (1) arthroscopic debridement plus intra-articular SVF (SVF-only) or (2) the same debridement protocol augmented with microfracture followed by SVF (microfracture + SVF). SVF was harvested from subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue and processed intraoperatively; the injectate volume was standardized to 5 mL. Total nucleated cell count (TNCC) was quantified for quality control. Outcomes included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Lysholm scores. MRI structural outcomes were assessed at baseline, 12 and 24 months using the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) cartilage morphology domain by blinded musculoskeletal radiologists. Fifty patients completed 24-month follow-up. Mean TNCC in the 5-mL injectate was 7.32 × 10 7 ± 2.47 × 10 7 cells and did not differ between groups (p = 0.42). At 24 months, the microfr

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.

Evidence level

Several human studies exist, but sample sizes, methodology, or follow-up remain limited, so conclusions are not firm.

How we grade evidence
KneeKnee OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritisCartilage Damage
View on PubMedDOI

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