Intra-articular injection of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fractions for knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized self-controlled trial.

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)

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological efficacy of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) versus hyaluronic acid in patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Methods Sixteen patients with bilateral symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (K-L grade II to III; initial pain evaluated at four or greater on a ten-point VAS score) were enrolled in this study, which were randomized into two groups. Each patient received 4-ml autologous adipose-derived SVF treatment (group test, n = 16) in one side of knee joints and a single dose of 4-ml hyaluronic acid treatment (group control, n = 16) in the other side. The clinical evaluations were performed pre-operatively and post-operatively at one month, three months, six months, and 12-months follow-up visit, using the ten-point visual analog scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the knee range of motion (ROM). The whole-organ assessment of the knees was performed with whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) based on MRI at baseline, six months and 12-months follow-up. The articular repair tissue was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively by magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score based on follow-up MRI at six months and 12 months. Results No significant baseline differences were foun

Evidence level

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

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.