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.

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Purpose 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. Methods 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. Results 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). A

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.