A study undertaken by by Hong Z and his colleagues published in the 'International Orthopaedics' suggested that the autologous adipose-derived SVF treatment is safe and effectively ease the pain, improves the function, and repair cartilage defects in knee osteoarthritis patients. The study was carried out to distinguish between the clinical and radiological efficacy of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and hyaluronic acid in bilateral knee osteoarthritis patients. To justify the basis of the study, a double-blind, randomised self-controlled trial was executed in 16 patients with bilateral symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (K-L grade II to III; initial pain assessed at four or higher on a ten-point VAS score) who were randomised in two groups. A 4-ml autologous adipose-derived SVF treatment (group test, n = 16) was given to each patient in one side of knee joints whereas a single dose of 4-ml hyaluronic acid treatment (group control, n = 16) in the other side. Ten-point visual analog scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the knee range of motion (ROM) was used to assess the clinical evaluations performed pre-operatively and post-operatively at one month, three months, six months, and 12-months follow-up visit. The whole-organ assessment of the knees was performed using the whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) as per MRI at baseline, six months and 12-months follow-up. Based on the follow-up MRI at six months and 12 months, the articular repair tissue was examined quantitatively and qualitatively by magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue (MOCART) score.

No significant baseline differences were there between the two groups. During the 12-months follow-up, safety was confirmed with no severe adverse events. As compared with baseline, the SVF-treated knees portrayed significant improvement in the mean VAS, WOMAC scores, and ROM at 12-months follow-up visit. Whereas, the mean VAS, WOMAC scores, and ROM of the control group worsened but not significant from baseline to the last follow-up visit. There was a considerable improvement of articular cartilage repair in SVF-treated knees as compared to hyaluronic acid-treated knees was depicted as per the WORMS and MOCART measurements.