A Review of Clinical Studies of Stromal Vascular Fraction for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis with a Follow-up Period of Over Two Years.

OA (Osteoarthritis), a degenerative joint disease, causes significant pain and functional impairment, with current treatments often falling short in achieving long-term efficacy. This review summarizes clinical studies evaluating the use of the SVF (stromal vascular fraction), a heterogeneous cell population derived from autologous adipose tissue, in OA treatment with follow-up of over two years. Clinical evaluations included imaging detection (X-ray, MRI) and evaluation, and functional scale scoring (VAS, WOMAC, KOOS). Most studies reported significant pain relieve and joint function improvements up to 2-5 years, with minimal adverse reactions. From the summary results of therapeutic effects, it can be seen that OA patient with younger age, lower BMI (body mass index), and less severe OA (K-L stage II-III) will achieve better clinical treatment effects. Patients with large cartilage defects or advanced stages (K-L stage IV) had limited benefits. Long-term efficacy plateaued after 2-3 years, highlighting the need for potential retreatment. Combined use with fibrin glue or PRP (platelet rich plasma) showed enhanced local retention and cartilage repair signals. Despite variability in preparation methods and evaluation scales, SVF emerges as a safe, autologous option to alleviate symptoms and delay joint replacement. Standardized protocols and larger, long-term follow-up trials are warranted to optimize clinical application to achieve better clinical effect and possibility to explore the therapeutic mechanism.