Level B· Emerging Clinical Evidence
Clinical Efficacy of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Versus Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Bolia I.K., Bougioukli S., Hill W.J., Weber A.E.
Synthesised clinical studies of a single intra-articular BMAC or SVF injection to compare effect sizes for pain and function.
- Study type
- Meta-analysis
- Journal
- The American Journal of Sports Medicine (2022)
- Country
- United States
- Sample size
- —
- Follow-up
- Varied across included studies
- PMID
- 34102078
- DOI
- 10.1177/03635465211014500
What was studied
Whether BMAC or SVF offers superior clinical outcomes in knee osteoarthritis.
Methods
- • Conducted per PRISMA using a random-effects model reporting standardized mean differences.
- • Studies using culture-expanded cells were excluded.
Key findings
- • Both approaches were associated with improved VAS and WOMAC versus baseline.
- • No clear conclusion that either therapy is superior to the other.
Limitations
- • Included studies were predominantly level 4 evidence.
- • Mostly indirect comparisons rather than head-to-head trials.
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • Limited follow-up cannot indicate long-term outcomes.
Clinical interpretation
Offers a comparison of the two products, but the quality of source evidence limits conclusions.
Evidence level: Emerging Clinical Evidence