Midterm results of intra‐articular stromal vascular fraction injection for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the safety and eicacy of intra-knee stromal vascular fraction (SVF) injection in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis at the midterm (3-year) follow-up. Methods SVF injection was applied to 25 knees of 20 patients. Eighteen patients (90%) were female, and the means ± standard deviations of age was 61.9 ± 7.8 (range, 50-76) years. Patients who received conservative treatment for at least 6 months and had radiographic Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades 2 and 3 varus gonarthrosis were included in the study. SVF was obtained from the umbilical region by liposuction using local anaesthesia. Patients were followed-up for 36 months. Their visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Lysholm scores were evaluated before and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months post-SVF injection. Results A statistically signiicant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed in VAS, WOMAC and Lysholm scores at the irst 2-year follow-up compared to baseline. However, no statistically signiicant diference (n.s.) was observed in VAS, WOMAC and Lysholm scores at the 3-year follow-up compared with baseline. Conclusion Intra-articular SVF injection decreased pain and signiicantly improved the functional outcomes in the irst 2 years in knees with grade 2-3 osteoarthritis; however, these positive efects of the injection disappeared in the 3rd year. Although short-term successful results of SVF have been reported in the literature, prospective studies are needed for medium-and long-term results.

Hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, the stromal vascular fraction, or mesenchymal stem cells: which is the best candidate for treating knee osteoarthritis?

“…In a recent publication, confirmed that the cartilage lesion size and number of SVF cells strongly influence the clinical outcome of knee OA treatment 25 . The therapeutic effects of SVF can persist for the first 2 years in patients with knee OA grades 2-3, and the positive effects of the injection disappear in the third year 26 .…”