Fresh autologous stromal tissue fraction for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis related pain and disability.

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

• 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)

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a very common condition with multifactorial etiology leading to severe pain and disability in the adult population. Although KOA is considered a non-inflammatory arthritis, upregulation of inflammatory and catabolic pathways with increased production of proinflammatory cytokines leading to cartilage degradation and extracellular matrix degeneration has been reported. Intra-articular injection of fresh fat derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) fraction has been proposed as a valid and alternative treatment for symptomatic KOA that guarantees mechanical support through viscosupplementation, anti-inflammatory, and anabolic action. We retrospectively reviewed a case series of 84 consecutive adult patients with KOA who underwent intra-articular injection of fresh fat derived SVF. Significant improvement in pain levels (NRS score decrease 3.5±1.1, p<0.001), WOMAC pain (-7.02±3.45 score change, p<0.001), WOMAC stiffness (-1.97±1.02, p<0.001), and ROM improvement (+17.13±5.22°, p<0.001). The only complication noted was knee joint swelling lasting for less than 7 days after the injection in 7% of the patients.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

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