Level C· Early Human Research
Limited evidence for adipose-derived stem cell therapy on the treatment of osteoarthritis
Hurley E.T., Yasui Y., Gianakos A.L., Kennedy J.G.
A systematic review of 16 studies (14 knee, 1 ankle, 1 multiple joints): all reported clinical improvement, but preparation methods and outcome reporting were inconsistent.
- Study type
- Systematic Review
- Journal
- Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (2018)
- Country
- United States
- Sample size
- —
- Follow-up
- Varied across included studies
- PMID
- 29713784
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00167-018-4955-x
What was studied
Effects of ADSCs — prepared as SVF in every included study — on osteoarthritis in clinical practice.
Methods
- • Searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library to January 2017.
- • Analysed donor site, adipose volume, preparation, clinical outcomes and complication rate.
Key findings
- • 9 of 16 studies co-administered PRP and/or fibrin, confounding the SVF effect.
- • All studies reported clinical improvement, but with non-comparable outcome measures.
Limitations
- • Clinical variables and donor sites were inconsistent between studies.
- • Data predating 2017 may not reflect current techniques.
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
A methodological caution that 'every study improved' is not the same as 'proven'.
Evidence level: Early Human Research