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

Hong Z, Chen J, Zhang S, et al. · International Orthopaedics

SVF knees improved significantly on VAS, WOMAC and ROM at 12 months while HA knees did not; MRI (WORMS/MOCART) suggested cartilage improvement in SVF knees.

Population

16 patients with bilateral KL grade II-III knee OA

Intervention

Autologous adipose-derived SVF in one knee

Comparator

Hyaluronic acid in the contralateral knee

Limitations

Very small n; self-controlled bilateral design; MRI scoring is observer-dependent; enzymatic SVF preparation of this kind is not FDA-compliant in the US.