SynthesisFrontiers in medicine2026
Intra-articular adipose-derived cell therapies for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Advancing fat graft survival: from adipose-derived stem cell mechanisms to next-generation regenerative strategies.Frontiers in cell and developmental biology · 2026Review
- Preparing the soil in knee osteoarthritis: a seed-systemic soil-local tissue soil framework for orthobiologic response heterogeneity.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain, functional limitation, and disability worldwide, imposing a substantial socioeconomic burden. Despite advances in conservative management and intra-articular therapies, many patients experience limited or transient symptomatic relief, underscoring the need for biologically based interventions. Intra-articular adipose-derived cell therapies, including adipose-derived mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (ADSCs), stromal vascular fraction (SVF), and microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT), have emerged as regenerative strategies aimed at modulating inflammation and joint homeostasis. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy, structural effects, and safety of intra-articular adipose-derived cell-based therapies for knee osteoarthritis in adults. Methods: Randomized controlled trials published between 2015 and 2025 were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. Eligible studies compared ADSCs, SVF, or MFAT with placebo, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma, corticosteroids, or conservative care, and reported outcomes on pain, function, imaging-based structural changes, and safety. Results: Nineteen randomized controlled trials met inclusion criteria. Across studies, adipose-derived interventions, particularly ADSC-based therapies, produced clinically meaningful reductions in pain and improvements in functional outcomes assessed by WOMAC, KOOS, and visual analog scales. Discussion: Several ADSC and SVF trials reported favorable magnetic resonance imaging findings, including improvements in cartilage quality, although consistent cartilage regeneration was not demonstrated. MFAT trials yielded heterogeneous results, often showing symptomatic benefits comparable to established injective therapies but limited structural effects. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported. Intra-articular adipose-derived cell therapies are safe and provide meaningful pain relief and functional improvement in selected patients, with ADSCs showing the most consistent clinical signals. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251241498, Identifier: CRD420251241498.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.