Fat grafts supplemented with adipose-derived stromal cells in the rehabilitation of patients with craniofacial microsomia.

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)

Background Although first reports of the clinical use of adipose-derived stromal cells suggest that this approach may be feasible and effective for soft-tissue augmentation, there is a lack of randomized, controlled clinical trials in the literature. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether a faster protocol for isolation of adipose-derived stromal cells and their use in combination with fat tissue improve the long-term retention of the grafts in patients with craniofacial microsomia. Methods Patients with craniofacial microsomia (n = 14) were grafted either with supplementation of adipose-derived stromal cells (experimental group) or without supplementation of adipose-derived stromal cells (control group). The number of viable cells isolated before and after the supplementation of the grafts was calculated, and these cells were examined for mesenchymal cell surface markers using flow cytometry. Computed tomography was performed to assess both hemifaces preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Results The average number of viable cells isolated before and after the supplementation of the grafts was 5.6 × 10 and 9.9 × 10 cells/ml of fat tissue (p = 0.015). Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the adipose-derived stromal cells were positive for mesenchymal cell markers (>95 percent for CD73 and CD105). Surviving fat volume at 6 months was 88 percent for the experime

Evidence level

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

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