SVF
Level C· Early Human ResearchRetrospective Study

Impact of Kellgren-Lawrence grade on clinical outcomes following adipose-derived stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study.

Nakano N., Matsumoto T., Tsubosaka M., Kamenaga T., Ishida K., Osaka R.

Retrospective Study with a reported sample of 3 on Knee Osteoarthritis, Osteoarthritis, published in Cell Transplant (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Retrospective Study
Journal
Cell Transplant (2026)
Country
United States
Reported sample size
3
PMID
41546528
DOI
10.1177/09636897251414212

Abstract (original English)

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) causes pain and disability, and autologous adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) therapy has emerged as a regenerative treatment option. This retrospective cohort study compared short-term outcomes of intra-articular ASC injections between patients with moderate (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] 2/3) and severe (KL 4) OA. Among 242 treated patients, 98 in each group were analyzed after propensity score matching for age, sex, and body mass index. Pain (VAS) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales were evaluated at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months. Both groups showed significant improvements in pain and function, with KL 2/3 patients exhibiting greater gains in KOOS Total, Activities of Daily Living, Sports/Recreation, Quality of Life, and VAS pain compared with KL 4. KOOS pain and symptoms improved similarly in both groups. Analgesic effects increased over time, and no serious adverse events were observed. Mild transient swelling or discomfort occurred in about 5% to 6% of cases. ASC injections provided meaningful symptom relief and functional improvement, particularly in moderate OA, suggesting that preserved joint structure benefits therapeutic efficacy. In advanced OA, benefits were present but attenuated, indicating limited regenerative potential in end-stage disease.

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
  • • Without an adequate control group, treatment effects cannot be separated from other factors.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples, often without a control group.

How we grade evidence
HumansOsteoarthritis, KneeFemaleMaleRetrospective StudiesMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeAdipose TissuePropensity ScoreStem Cell Transplantation
KneeKnee OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis
View on PubMedDOI

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